# NTSB LAX97LA020: Beech S35, N5642K, Palo Alto, CA, October 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1996, 16:53 local (23:53 UTC) - Place: Palo Alto, CA - Coordinates: 37.449729, -122.099967 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4497&lon=-122.1000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29667/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA020 ## Probable cause fuel starvation, due to the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel tank selector to an empty tank. Swampy terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he calculated that 60 gallons of fuel were onboard his airplane before taking off on the flight, and that fuel was located in the main and auxiliary tanks. En route, the pilot transferred all of the fuel from the tip tanks into the main tanks, and alternated using fuel from the main tanks. The pilot additionally reported that approaching Palo Alto, he repositioned the fuel selector toward the fullest tank. On final approach, all engine power was lost, and the pilot made a forced landing in a marsh area of the San Francisco Bay. The FAA coordinator reported that during examination of the airplane and surrounding marshland, no evidence of any oil or fuel leakage was found. The airplane was recovered, and its fuel tanks were found intact. The quantity of fuel observed in the left wing tip tank and the left main tank was 0.25 and 11.0 gallons, respectively. The quantity of fuel observed in the right wing tip tank and the right main tank was 0.75 and 0.50 gallons, respectively. During examination of the engine, no evidence of preimpact damage was found, and the engine was successfully test run. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1996, at 1653 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech S35, N5642K, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power on final approach to runway 30 at the Palo Alto, California, airport. The pilot made a forced landing, and the airplane touched down hard in a shallow marsh area of the San Francisco Bay. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from Thermal, California, at 1415. The pilot reported that prior to taking off he had calculated that the airplane contained 60 gallons of fuel in its tanks, and the flight would last about 2.75 hours. During the flight he transferred all of the fuel from the tip tanks into the main tanks, and alternated using fuel from the main tanks. The pilot additionally reported that approaching Palo Alto, he repositioned the fuel selector toward the fullest tank. The airplane was equipped with 4 fuel tanks. The two tip tanks each contained a maximum capacity of 15 gallons of fuel. The two main tanks each contained a maximum capacity of 40 gallons (37 usable gallons). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator verbally reported that an examination of the airplane and surrounding marshland did not reveal evidence of any oil or fuel leakage from the airplane. The airplane was recovered and its fuel tanks were found intact. The quantity of fuel observed in the left wing tip tank and the left main tank was 0.25 and 11.0 gallons, respectively. The quantity of fuel observed in the right wing tip tank and the right main tank was 0.75 and 0.50 gallons, respectively. Under the direction of the FAA, a representative from Teledyne Continental Motors examined the engine. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. An external fuel tank was then plumbed to the aircraft. The representative reported that the engine was started and it "ran normally with good throttle response . . . ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5642K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5642K-1999-01-06), registration cancelled 1999-01-06, S/N D7399 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7399 - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce G Schwartz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1996, 54 hours before - Departed: TRM, THERMAL, CA - Destination: PAO - Airport: PAO, Palo Alto, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,573 total, 3,300 in this make and model, 3,573 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAO, 2 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 19961015032909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961015032909A), Oct 15, 1996: Beech S35, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on final. Landed bay marsh. Fuel selected empty tank. Only 11 gal on board in other. 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.