# NTSB FTW94LA290: Beech J35, N5526D, Crockett, TX, September 5, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1994, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Crockett, TX - Coordinates: 31.30927, -95.449142 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3093&lon=-95.4491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA290 ## Probable cause THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - stall - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM AN AUX TANK TO THE RIGHT MAIN UPON ENTERING THE PATTERN AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE INTO AN OPEN FIELD SHORT OF A TREE LINE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION REVEALED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAINS AND NO FUEL IN EITHER AUX TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND IN THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1994, at 1140 central daylight time, a Beech J35, N5526D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Crockett, Texas. The airplane, flown by a private pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. According to the pilot, he flew the en route segment of the flight from Friendswood, Texas, to Crockett, Texas, on the auxiliary tanks; he did not specify which tank. The pilot stated that upon entering the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he switched the fuel selector to the right main. Shortly thereafter, the engine sustained a power loss. The pilot verified the fuel selector setting and switched the fuel boost pump to "emergency", and attempted to restart the engine; however, his efforts were unsuccessful. The pilot determined that he would be unable to make the airport and elected to stall the airplane into a field short of a tree line at the end of the runway. Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that there were 15 gallons of fuel in both the left and right main fuel tanks and no fuel in the auxiliary tanks. Examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5526D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5526D-2011-07-19), registration cancelled 2011-07-19, S/N D-5062, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH J35 - Registry model: [Beech J35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-j35) (registry code 1151522) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5062 - Airframe hours: 5796 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Everett, Edward C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1994, 7 hours before - Departed: 7XS0, FRIENDSWOOD, TX - Destination: T56, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport, private, foreign, student; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 59 in this make and model, 365 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 73 °F ## 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 19940905025399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940905025399A), Sep 5, 1994: Beech J35, Crockett, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power switching from aux tank to right main. Engine quit. Mains contained fuel. Stalled into open field. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.