# NTSB LAX79DVA25: Beech H35, N202BC, Porterville, CA, April 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1979
- Place: Porterville, CA · PORTERVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.0635° N, 119.0336° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Porterville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0635&lon=-119.0336&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136990
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DVA25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DVA25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0636  79/4/14    PORTERVILLE,CA      BEECH H35           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 134
        TIME - 0950                    N202BC              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PORTERVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SACRAMENTO,CA               APPLE VALLEY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO EXTEND LANDING GEAR
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- OPS MANUAL STATES TKOF ON L MAIN.PLT STATED TKOF ON R MAIN.R MAIN FOUND EMPTY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N202BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N202BC), registered now, S/N D-5199, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H35
- Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Porterville

## 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 19790414006719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790414006719A), Apr 14, 1979: Beech H35, Porterville, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot ran one tank dry. Three other tanks had fuel. Forced landing on airport. Forgot to lower the landing gear.

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.

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