# NTSB FTW89LA040: Beech V35B, N4521S, Pawhuska, OK, January 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1989, 17:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Pawhuska, OK
- Coordinates: 36.660964, -96.329879 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6610&lon=-96.3299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA040

## Probable cause

FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE BEING INADVERTENTLY SWITCHED OFF AND THE PILOT'S EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INADEQUATE IN DISCOVERINGAND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN THE FUEL STARVATION RELATED POWER LOSS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN ON WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED AND THE FENCE WHICH WAS CONTACTED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,selector/valve - switched off (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - not corrected, pilot in command
  - emergency procedure - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT 5,500 FEET WHEN THE CABIN DOOR POPPED OPEN AND THE PILOT SLID FROM THE LEFT SEAT TO THE RIGHT SEAT TO CLOSE IT. WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED BETWEEN TANKS, EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4521S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4521S-1990-03-09), registration cancelled 1990-03-09, S/N D9459 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35B
- Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D9459
- Airframe hours: 2626
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stillwater Flight Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Stillwater Flight Center, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 1988, 22 hours before
- Departed: SWO, STILLWATER, OK
- Destination: STL, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Airport: H76, Pawhuska, Ok

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 565 total, 7 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BVO, 21 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890109000359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890109000359A), Jan 9, 1989: Beech V35B, Pawhuska, OK, Substantial damage. Door came open in flight. Engine lost power landed in rough field and ran thru a fence. Fuel selector between tanks

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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