# NTSB FTW98LA078: Beech 35, N2815V, Springdale, AR, December 28, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 1997, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Springdale, AR - Coordinates: 36.179405, -94.139556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1794&lon=-94.1396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20503/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA078 ## Probable cause The fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel and his inadequate pre-flight planning. Factors were the pilot's disorientation due to instrument meteorological conditions. Another factor, was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to execute a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot encountered snow and instrument meteorological conditions after departure from Malvern, Arkansas. He became lost and elected to fly toward the Springdale Airport, Springdale, Arkansas, using the Razorback VORTAC. While diverting to Springdale, the pilot informed his passengers that the aircraft was going to 'run out of gas.' Approximately 2.5 miles north of the Springdale Airport, the engine lost power. A forced landing was initiated, and during the landing roll, the aircraft went through a barbed wire fence and the right wing struck a tree. The amount of fuel onboard the aircraft prior to departing Malvern was undetermined. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the fuel tanks. Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 1997, at 1300 central standard time, a Beech 35 airplane, N2815V, owned and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Springdale, Arkansas. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight had departed Malvern, Arkansas, at 1050, and was enroute to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. According to the pilot, snow and IFR conditions were encountered when the flight reached the Arkansas River, about 50 nautical miles south of Springdale. He became lost and flew around for an undetermined period of time trying to locate his position. He then tuned in the Razorback VORTAC, which is located at Springdale, and tracked inbound to it. While IMC and tracking to the Springdale Airport from the VORTAC, the pilot alerted his passengers that they were going to "run out of gas." Approximately 2.5 miles north of the Springdale Airport, the engine lost power. A forced landing was initiated, and during the landing roll, the aircraft went through a barbed wire fence and the right wing struck a tree. There were no refueling records obtained by the NTSB Investigator In Charge, the amount of fuel onboard the aircraft upon departing Malvern could not be determined. However, the pilot reported that the he refueled the aircraft at Siloam Springs earlier that day. Examination of the aircraft by a FAA inspector revealed that the right wing's leading edge was crushed aft to the main spar, and the left wing's leading edge had some dents. Examination of the aircraft's fuel tanks revealed that there was no fuel in the left tank, and only unusable fuel in the right and auxiliary fuel tanks. Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2815V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2815V-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N D216, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 - Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D216 - Engines: Continental E-185-1 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herber R. Crosby - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: M78, MALVERN, AR - Destination: ASG, AR - Airport: ASG ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 270 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FYV, 12 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 19971228039429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971228039429A), Dec 28, 1997: Beech 35BEECH, Springdale, AR, Substantial damage. Acft was attempting to land when it encountered IFR weather and ran out of fuel. Struck a tree. Springdale, AR. (-23) pilot departed siloam springs enroute to… ## Other investigations on N2815V (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK64X2233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2233), Jun 11, 1964: Beechcraft 35 (N2815V), West Mifflin, PA, substantial damage 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.