# NTSB FTW97LA338: Beech V35B, N7397R, Saguache, CO, September 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1997, 18:11 local (Sep 4, 1997, 00:11 UTC) - Place: Saguache, CO - Coordinates: 38.080921, -106.14022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0809&lon=-106.1402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA338 ## Probable cause **This report was modified on 2/23/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional information.** the loss of engine power during cruise for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing. The fence and irrigation ditch were factors in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - object - fence (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis **This report was modified on 2/23/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional information.** After 6 hours of flight cross-country from San Rafael, California, to Denver, Colorado, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted an emergency landing in a field after attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a fence and an irrigation ditch, damaging both wings and causing fuel to spill from tanks in both wings. The local fire chief stated that firefighters recovered more than 25 gallons of fuel during cleanup operations. The airplane, equipped with auxiliary long-range tip tanks, departed with 114 gallons on board. Based on standard-day values, performance calculations indicated that the airplane had burned about 84 gallons in 6 hours of cruise. Takeoff and climb would have increased the amount of fuel used. ## Factual narrative **This report was modified on 2/23/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional information.** On September 3, 1997, at 1811 mountain daylight time, a Beech V35B, N7397R, nosed down in a ditch during an emergency landing following a loss of power while in cruise flight 3 miles southwest of Saguache, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in San Rafael, California, about 6 hours before the accident. The planned destination was Englewood, Colorado. According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight at either "11,500 or 13,500" feet above mean sea level (msl) when a total loss of power occurred. He said he attempted an engine restart without success and then tried to glide to the Saguache airport. He could not locate the airport and ended up landing in a field where the aircraft struck a fence and came to rest in an irrigation ditch. During the landing, both wings, the propeller, and the nose landing gear sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was recovered by a repair station located in Alamosa, Colorado. Firefighters from the Saguache Volunteer Fire Department estimated that more than 25 gallons of fuel leaked into the ground and into the irrigation ditch from holes in both wings. According to the fire department incident report, the fuel spill was contained and cleaned up by firefighters and hazmat crews. The repair station also conducted an examination of the engine at the request of the Investigator In Charge. The examination provided no evidence of malfunction, and all damage was the result of impact forces. It was not possible to definitively calculate aircraft performance due to lack of actual information regarding weight, temperature, cruise altitude, leaning, and power setting. In addition, the Continental TSIO-550B engine is a non standard application in the V35B aircraft. However, calculations were made using TSIO-550B engine performance information, standard conditions, the pilot's stated fuel load of 114 gallons at takeoff, and his stated cruise altitude between 11,500 and 13,500 feet msl. Using that information, calculations indicated that the engine would have burned about 14 gallons of fuel per hour in cruise flight. According to the pilot, he was airborne for about 6 hours, which results in a calculated fuel burn of about 84 gallons, leaving about 30 gallons on board. The actual fuel burn would be somewhat higher when takeoff and climb power are included. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7397R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7397R), registered now, S/N D-9654, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D9654 - Airframe hours: 2350 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William R. Dixon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1997, 70 hours before - Departed: CA35, SAN RAFAEL, CA - Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,395 total, 1,041 in this make and model, 1,395 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALS, 30 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 19970904047739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970904047739A), Sep 4, 1997: Beech V35B, Saguache, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot began descent out of 16,000 ft. descending through 13,500 ft. the engine lost power. The pilot ran through emergency check list procedures-boost… 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.