# NTSB LAX00LA197: Beech H35, N5477D, Show Low, AZ, May 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2000, 21:45 local (May 16, 2000, 04:45 UTC) - Place: Show Low, AZ - Coordinates: 34.265277, -110.005554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2653&lon=-110.0056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 49219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA197 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector to a tank with fuel resulting in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with the ground during the final landing approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - checklist - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, approach - altitude - low (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - not successful - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach ## Analysis While on short final the airplane drifted below the glide slope. The pilot advanced the throttle to find that the airplane had lost power. An attempt was made to restart the engine and the fuel tanks were switched, but the airplane was already at a low altitude. The airplane impacted the ground short of the runway. The auxiliary tanks were damaged from the impact and found dry, according to the recovery person. Friends of the pilot reportedly moved the wreckage and drained the fuel in the airplane before authorized inspection. Twenty-six gallons of fuel was removed from the left main. In a post crash examination, the engine tested successfully after an adjustment was made to a fuel line separation that had been damaged from impact. The pilot bought 35.5 gallons of fuel before the flight and by his own account filled the tanks. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2000, at 2145 hours mountain standard time, a Beech H35, N5477D, lost power, landed short, and collided with ground obstructions while on approach to Show Low Municipal Airport, Show Low, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot was not injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by a private owner under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, at 2045. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, while about 0.25 miles from the runway on final approach, the aircraft drifted below the pilot's desired approach angle. He attempted to correct the condition by advancing the throttle but the engine did not respond. The aircraft landed about 120 feet short of the runway threshold and collided with ground obstructions. The engine was tested on May 19, 2000, and did not start initially. The fuel line was found separated at the selector. The aircraft recovery company representative observed impact damage on the underside of the airplane that extended to the fuel selector area. On May 22, 2000, the engine was retested. No further malfunctions were reported. The Beech has multiple fuel selector positions for the H35 model equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks such as this one. Extended range tanks are selected separately on the fuel selector switch. Both auxiliary tip-tanks were damaged from impact. The pilot stated having switched tanks after the power failure but as the airplane drifted below the glide slope, impact was imminent. The switch was found on the left main where 26 gallons of fuel was reportedly removed. Friends of the pilot reportedly had moved the wreckage and drained the fuel tanks before investigators could examine the airplane. There was fuel on the ground around the airplane wreckage. An investigation record found that the pilot bought 35.5 gallons of fuel before the flight. The pilot reported the tanks were filled before departure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5477D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5477D-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N D-5007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D5007 - Airframe hours: 3773 - Engines: Continental IO-520 BA2 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles K Terrell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 16, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ - Destination: SOW, Show Low, AZ - Airport: SOW, Show Low Municipal, runway 24, 7,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review February 27, 2000; flight hours: 1,380 total, 36 in this make and model, 1,310 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SOW ## 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 20000515013469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000515013469A), May 15, 2000: Beech H35, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot entered traffic pattern on a left base for rwy 24. Pilot switched fuel tanks for landing. On final approach to landing on rwy 24 pilot noticed that… 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.