# NTSB FTW99LA003: Beech M35, N9838R, Carter, OK, October 2, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 1998, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Carter, OK - Coordinates: 35.210323, -99.499298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2103&lon=-99.4993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA003 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation. Factors were; the pilot's self induced pressure to fly the aircraft when maintenance had not been completed, poor judgement by the pilot to commence and continue flight with known deficiencies in the aircraft, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane impacted terrain following a forced landing resulting from a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The airplane underwent 'extensive' modification and repair for five to six months prior to the flight. Several maintenance personnel, who were working on the airplane the morning of the accident, stated that the pilot wanted the airplane back, even though he was told that maintenance was not complete. Also, one maintenance person reported that the pilot said, 'no matter what, I'm pulling this airplane out and flying to Albuquerque.' After about 30 minutes of flight, the engine 'quit.' The left wing tank fuel quantity gauge indicated '3/4 full.' The pilot then switched the fuel tank selector switch from the left main wing tank to the right main wing tank and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He then tried to restart the engine with the auxiliary tank selected, but was unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed to a paved, country road. The airplane veered to the right into a ditch, subsequently the right wing dug into the ground and turned the airplane 180 degrees into a ditch. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 1998, at 1430 central daylight time, a Beech M35 single engine airplane, N9838R, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Carter, Oklahoma. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Clinton/Sherman Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, at 1400. The pilot intended to remain in the traffic pattern at the Clinton/Sherman Municipal Airport, but on the initial climb passing through 800 feet AGL he observed clouds "hanging down into the downwind leg," and decided to climb above the clouds. The pilot referenced the vertical speed indicator and interpreted its display as indicating a 500 foot per minute descent, which contradicted the readings the attitude indicator and altimeter were displaying. He leveled the airplane at 8,500 feet and began to evaluate the situation. "Approximately, 30 minutes into the flight the engine sputtered and quit." The pilot noticed that the fuel gauge for the selected tank (left main) was reading 3/4 full and then he verified that the fuel selector was on the left main. He switched the fuel selector to the right main fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He then switched to the auxiliary fuel tank and attempted to restart the engine and was unsuccessful. Subsequently, he descended the airplane through several cloud layers, lowered the landing gear and attempted to land on a small, paved road. Upon touchdown, the airplane was 10 to 20 degrees out of alignment with the road. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right into a ditch, whereby the right wing dug into the ground and spun the airplane 180 degrees. According to the pilot the airplane underwent "extensive modifications," during the 5 to 6 months prior to the flight. An FAA certified airframe and powerplant mechanic who was working on the airplane stated that he informed the pilot that the oil temperature gauge was inoperative. The pilot asked the mechanic if "anything quickee could be done?" The mechanic attempted to correct the problem, but told the pilot, "I'm not finished with this aircraft." A few minutes later he observed the airplane take off. Another mechanic who was installing equipment on the airplane the morning of the accident stated that the pilot appeared in the hangar at 0830 on the morning of the accident. The pilot complained because the work on the airplane was not complete. The pilot then began working on the airplane. The mechanic reported that the pilot stated "No matter what I'm pulling this airplane out and flying to Albuquerque." A witness who conversed with the pilot at the airport the morning of the accident reported that the pilot stated that "he was going to fly his airplane whether the airplane was finished or not." According to a work order provided by Gipson Aviation located at the Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, and the airplane's discrepancy log, the instrument panel was repaired and reinstalled. At the time of the accident the installation work, which requires an FAA field approval before the airplane returns to service, had not been inspected by the FAA. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the site and reported that the left wing fuel tank was empty. The right wing fuel tank was full and the left and right auxiliary fuel tanks were full. The aircraft is equipped with two switches for selecting a fuel tank. One switch indicates right or left and the second switch indicates main or auxiliary. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9838R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9838R-1999-11-30), registration cancelled 1999-11-30, S/N D-6386 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech M35 - Registry model: [Beech M35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-m35) (registry code 1151526) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-6386 - Airframe hours: 3875 - Engines: Continental IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jack C. Logan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1998, 1 hours before - Departed: CLK, CLINTON, OK - Airport: CSM, Clinton-Shermon Airport ## 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: 479 total, 11 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CSM, 17 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 19981002028019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981002028019A), Oct 2, 1998: Beech M35, Carter, OK, Substantial damage. Acft was on a test flight when it crashed under unknown circumstances. (.4) the airplane impacted terrain following a forced landing resulting from a loss of… 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.