# NTSB LAX97LA042: Beech 35-33, N961T, Apple Valley, CA, November 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 1996, 14:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Apple Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.419166, -117.139442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4192&lon=-117.1394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29685/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA042 ## Probable cause fuel starvation, due to plugged fuel system vent lines, which resulted in loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot reported that while he was descending toward the Apple Valley Airport, the engine began to run rough, then it lost power. He was using the left auxiliary fuel cell at the time, and further reported that he immediately switched to the right main tank, which was the fullest. He was unable to obtain a restart, even by positioning the fuel selector to other tanks. As the aircraft neared the ground, the pilot attempted to land on a dirt road, but had insufficient altitude and landed in rough terrain. The aircraft collided with a berm during the landing sequence. Aircraft recovery personnel found about 23 gallons of fuel in the right main tank and 10 gallons in the left auxiliary. Both tanks were leaking fuel at the time. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right main tank. Postcrash inspection of the engine revealed no discrepancies. Inspection of the fuel system revealed that the left auxiliary fuel cell vent lines were plugged by insects and mud at two different internal locations. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 1996, at 1405 hours Pacific standard time, a Beech 35-33, N961T, collided with a berm during an attempted forced landing near Apple Valley, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The aircraft was operated by the pilot, and was on a personal cross-country from Lake Havasu, Arizona, to Apple Valley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Lake Havasu at 1230 hours mountain standard time on the day of the accident. The pilot reported that while he was descending toward the Apple Valley airport the engine began to run rough, then quit. He was utilizing the left auxiliary fuel cell at the time, and further reported that he immediately switched to the right main tank, which was the fullest. He was unable to obtain a restart, even by positioning the fuel selector to other tanks. As the aircraft neared the ground he attempted to land on a dirt road, but had insufficient altitude and landed in rough terrain. The aircraft collided with a berm during the landing sequence. Aircraft recovery personnel found about 23 gallons of fuel in the right main tank and 10 in the left auxiliary. Both tanks were leaking fuel at the time. The fuel selector was positioned to the right main tank. A postcrash inspection of the engine and fuel system was conducted by the Safety Board. No discrepancies were noted with the engine. Inspection of the fuel system revealed that the left auxiliary fuel cell vent lines were plugged by insects and mud at two different internal locations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N961T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N961T-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N CD-157, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35-33 - Registry model: [Beech 35-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-33) (registry code 1151402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-157 - Airframe hours: 3878 - Engines: Continental IO-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Norman E. Nissen - Registered owner: Kenneth E. Nissen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1996, 8 hours before - Departed: HII, LAKE HAVASU, AZ - Destination: APV, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,535 total, 200 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 35 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAG, 30 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 19961115035919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961115035919A), Nov 15, 1996: Beech 3533, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. During descent to airport lost power fuel selected left aux. Unable restart full main. Crashed, fuel line clogged. 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.