# NTSB FTW97LA149: Beech D35, N940MD, Bartlesville, OK, April 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 1997, 17:33 local (23:33 UTC) - Place: Bartlesville, OK - Location: 36.7379° N, 95.9485° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bartlesville, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7379&lon=-95.9485&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20191/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA149 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an empty fuel tank, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft. ## 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 - downwind - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis While en route, the owner/pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, and observed that the fuel gauge indicated about 1/2 full. During a downwind entry for the runway, the engine sputtered and lost power. A forced landing was made in a field west of the runway. During the landing flare, the left wing struck the ground, then the nose hit. An FAA inspector reported that the pilot had positioned the fuel selector to the right tank; however, he had left the fuel tank indicator (gauge) at the left tank position. The gauge was indicating 1/2 full, and the left fuel tank was about 1/2 full. The right fuel tank was empty. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was not familiar with the fuel indicator gauge switch, which had to be positioned to the fuel tank being used in order to indicate fuel remaining in that tank. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 1997, at 1733 central standard time, a Beech D35, N940MD, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, struck terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The cmmercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed. During a personal telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had recently purchased the airplane in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and after having some radios installed in the airplane, he returned to Tulsa to get the airplane. During the installation of the radios, the airplane had been flown by another pilot who informed the owner/pilot that the fuel tanks were not full. The owner/pilot departed Tulsa and flew the airplane toward Bartlesville where he planned to do a few touch and goes and top off the fuel tanks before flying the airplane to Kansas. En route, the pilot noted that the fuel selector was on the left tank and the fuel indicator, in the cockpit, was moving slowly toward the 1/4 full indication. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank and observed the fuel indicator at 1/2 full. During the downwind entry for runway 17 at Bartlesville Municipal, the engine sputtered and quit. A forced landing was made to a field west of the runway and during the landing flare, the left wing struck the ground and then the nose hit. Local authorities and airport personnel reported that the fuel selector was found on the right tank and the cockpit fuel indicator was selected to the left tank. They further stated that the left fuel tank was 1/2 full and the right fuel tank was empty. The outboard two feet of the left wing was bent upward, the left wing spar was bent, and the engine was separated from the engine mounts and the firewall. The FAA inspector, who interviewed the pilot and examined the airplane, reported that the right fuel tank position was selected at the fuel selector. The left fuel tank reading was selected at the cockpit indicator gauge. The pilot recalled that the gauge indicated 1/2 full for the fuel tank. The right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was 1/2 full. The pilot stated that he had purchased the airplane and had one hour of flight time in the aircraft. The inspector reported that the pilot was not familiar with the fuel indicator gauge switch that must be selected to the fuel tank being used in order to indicate the fuel in that tank. The Pilot/Operator did not provide the Safety Board with a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N940MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N940MD-2013-07-11), registration cancelled 2013-07-11, S/N D-3474, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D35 - Registry model: [Beech D35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (registry code 1151510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3474 - Engines: Continental E185 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger L. Floyd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1997 - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: BVO - Airport: BVO, Bartlesville Municipal, runway 17, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BVO ## 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 19970403004339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970403004339A), Apr 3, 1997: Beech D35, Bartlesville, OK, Substantial damage. Lost power in pattern. Crash landed off airport. Fuel selected empty tank. Indicator on other tank with fuel. (-23) enroute from tulsa, pilot switched from LH… 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.