# NTSB LAX03LA121: Beech V35A, N95DC, North Las Vegas, NV, March 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2003, 20:30 local (Mar 31, 2003, 03:30 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.211666, -115.195831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2117&lon=-115.1958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors, Raytheon Aircraft Corp. - NTSB case key (mKey): 56734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56734/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA121 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the pilot's mismanagement of his fuel supply and failure to verify the fuel quantity onboard prior to departure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - fence - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane lost engine power at 300 feet during the climb out from a touch-and-go and collided with obstacles during the forced landing. The pilot said he visually checked the fuel level in both main tanks before the flight and said he could see that the fuel level was below the lower tab (the tab indicates 27 gallons of usable fuel per the pilot's operating handbook). He estimated that the airplane had about 15 gallons in each main tank. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that there was no evidence of fuel in either the left main or the left tip tanks. The right main and right tip tanks had been breached, making it not possible to determine the amount of fuel on board. Examination of the fuel system disclosed no evidence of fuel in any of the fuel lines or the left main and left tip fuel tanks. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure was found in the engine. The top spark plugs were removed and visually examined. All exhibited lean operating signatures. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2003, about 2030 mountain standard time, a Beech V35A, N95DC, collided with terrain near the North Las Vegas airport, North Las Vegas, Nevada. The collision with terrain was precipitated by a loss of engine power during the takeoff climb. The commercial pilot/owner was seriously injured; the airplane was destroyed. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan had been filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The purpose of the flight was for pilot currency and departed North Las Vegas about 2120. Witnesses at the scene reported that the airplane's engine quit. The airplane then dove towards the road, and struck the road and a fence before coming to rest in a ditch during the forced landing. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after climbing out from his first touch-and-go the engine quit at 300 feet. He reached down to the fuel selector handle and tried to select the right main tank but inadvertently selected the right tip tank. He then aimed for a drainage ditch along a road in which to land the airplane. The pilot told the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) that he visually checked the fuel level in each fuel tank during his preflight inspection. He could see that the fuel level was below the lower tab (the tab indicates 27 gallons of usable fuel per the pilot's operating handbook). He estimated that the airplane had about 15 gallons in each main tank. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane wreckage and reported that he found no evidence of fuel in the left main and left tip fuel tanks. The right main and wing tip tanks were breached, making it not possible to determine the amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident. The fuel selector handle was in the right tip tank position. The pilot said that the fire department washed away fuel that was around the airplane after the accident. There was no post accident fire. An Air Safety Investigator for Teledyne Continental Motors inspected the engine under the supervision of the FAA. The Continental investigator's examination report states, "No evidence of fuel was noted in any of the fuel lines or fuel tanks. The top spark plugs were removed and visually examined. All exhibited lean operating signatures." No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was found during the engine examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95DC-2012-08-08), registration cancelled 2012-08-08, S/N D-8615, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35A - Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8615 - Airframe hours: 4426 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph R. Edwards - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2002, 95.3 hours before - Departed: KVGT, Las Vegas, NV - Destination: KVGT - Airport: KVGT, North Las Vegas, runway 07, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,126 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: KVGT ## 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 20030330005369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030330005369A), Mar 30, 2003: Beech V35A, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 30, 2003 at about 2130 local time, a Beech V35A, N95DC made a forced landing and collided with obstacles following a loss of engine power during… 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.