# NTSB LAX03LA268: Beech C35, N607D, Gerlach, NV, August 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2003, 19:00 local (Aug 30, 2003, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Gerlach, NV - Coordinates: 40.643333, -119.34333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6433&lon=-119.3433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA268 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain following a loss of engine power during takeoff from a temporary dirt strip. The pilot reported that after liftoff he rolled the engine back to 2,200 rpm and reduced the manifold pressure to 23 inches. He brought the gear up. The airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl) and climbing at 90 knots. The engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing with the landing gear retracted. All spark plugs were clean with no mechanical deformation, and the spark plug electrodes were light gray and circular. The engine rotated freely, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders in firing order. The top plugs for cylinders 2, 4, and 6 sparked with manual rotation of the crankshaft. Manual rotation of the right magneto produced spark at the leads for cylinders 1, 3, and 5. The fuel screen in the pressure carburetor was clean. Investigators put solvent into the inlet line of the fuel pump and manually rotated the pump. The pump rotated freely and fluid exited the outlet line. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2003, about 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beech C35, N607D, collided with terrain following a loss of engine power during takeoff from a temporary dirt strip about 9 miles northeast of Gerlach, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane as a personal local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he rolled the engine back to 2,200 rpm and reduced the manifold pressure to 23 inches. He brought the gear up. The airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl) and climbing at 90 knots. The engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing with the landing gear retracted. After landing, the front seat occupants exited the airplane. They assisted the rear seat passenger exit the airplane. The pilot reentered the airplane and turned off the master switch, the magnetos, and disabled the emergency locator transmitter. Investigators examined the wreckage at Plain Parts, Sacramento, California, on September 22, 2003. The tachometer read 2,489.36 at the exam. The pilot reported that the last engine overhaul occurred in 1994, and time on the engine since the overhaul was 920 hours. An annual inspection was completed on May 17, 2003. The engine was a Teledyne Continental Motors E-225 engine, serial number 35324-D-5-8. Recovery personnel removed the engine and slung it from a hoist. Investigators removed the top spark plugs. All spark plugs were clean with no mechanical deformation. The spark plug electrodes were light gray. Investigators manually rotated the crankshaft, and it rotated freely. They obtained thumb compression on all cylinders in firing order. They obtained spark on the top plugs for cylinders 2, 4, and 6. They manually rotated the right magneto, and produced spark at the leads for cylinders 1, 3, and 5. The fuel screen in the pressure carburetor was clean. Investigators put solvent into the inlet line to the fuel pump and manually rotated the pump. The pump rotated freely and fluid exited the outlet line. The fuel selector valve was in the off (aft) position. The pilot operator failed to submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N607D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N607D-2006-05-31), registration cancelled 2006-05-31, S/N D-2863, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C35 - Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2863 - Engines: Continental E-225 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marcos R. Della - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2003 - Departed: Gerlach, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 80 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 20030829026859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030829026859A), Aug 29, 2003: Beech C35BEECH, Gerlach, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) The engine lost power after takeoff. The forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. 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.