# NTSB NYC08LA306: Beech G35, N4403D, Knoxville, TN, September 6, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2008, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.963611, -83.873611
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9636&lon=-83.8736&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68882
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68882/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68882
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA306

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations which resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech G35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Beech G35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=1151516), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed with 15-20 gallons of fuel for the approximately 1 hour round-trip flight to a nearby airport. The outbound leg of the trip was the airplane's first flight since an annual inspection. Prior to the inspection, the airplane was not flown much and the fuel in the airplane was "old." The pilot performed a pre-flight inspection during which he sumped the fuel tanks and noted no contamination. During the return leg of the trip, as the airplane turned onto final approach for the airport, the engine lost power, which "sounded like the airplane quit getting gas to the engine." When the pilot realized he could not make it to the runway, he prepared for a forced landing to a river. The airplane "stalled" above the water, and after it touched down, both occupants egressed and swam to shore. Examination of the airplane after recovery from the river revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot reported that the airplane burned approximately 10 gallons of fuel per hour; however, the airplane's Owner's Manual stated the engine consumed 13.6 – 14.1 gallons per hour.

## Factual narrative

On September 6, 2008, at 1600 eastern daylight time, N4403D, a Beech G35, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Knoxville, Tennessee. The certificated airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport (1A6), Middlesboro, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he originally departed the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX), Knoxville, Tennessee around 1100. Prior to his departure he visually confirmed that he had approximately 10 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. He then flew the approximately 20-minute flight to the Middlesboro Airport, with the right fuel tank selected. About 1530, the pilot departed for the return trip to Knoxville, with the left fuel tank selected. As the airplane turned onto final approach, the engine lost power, and when the pilot realized he could not make it to the runway, he prepared for a forced landing to a river. The airplane “stalled” above the water, and after it touched down, both occupants egressed and swam to shore. The pilot reported that the loss of power “sounded like the airplane quit getting gas to the engine.” He additionally reported that the airplane burned approximately 10 gallons of fuel per hour. In a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported the flights on the day of the accident were the airplane's first after an annual inspection was completed. He stated prior to the inspection, the airplane was not flown much and the fuel in the airplane was "old" (perhaps several months). The pilot stated he performed a complete pre-flight inspection prior to takeoff from both DKX and 1A6, including sumping the fuel tanks to check for contamination. In the written statement, the pilot reported having 15 gallons of automotive fuel onboard prior to departure. The airplane was recovered from the river and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. According to the inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and fuselage. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed both tanks were empty, and the left fuel tank was selected. Examination of the Beechcraft G35 Owner's Manual revealed at altitudes between 2,000 and 6,000 feet, the engine consumed 13.6 – 14.1 gallons per hour. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued on October 5, 2007. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported 12,000 hours of total flight experience, 150 of which were in make and model of the accident airplane. He reported 100 hours of flight experience in the previous 90 days, 3 of which were in make and model of the accident airplane. The airplane's most recent annual inspection wascompleted on September 1, 2008. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 6,400 hours of total time. The weather recorded at McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, 10 miles to the southwest, at 1553, included wind from 280 degrees at 9 knots, 10 miles visibility, a broken cloud layer at 5,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees C, dew point 18 degrees C, and altimeter setting 29.94 inches mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4403D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4403D-2013-03-04), registration cancelled 2013-03-04, S/N D-4623, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH G35
- Registry model: [Beech G35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35) (registry code 1151516) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-4623
- Airframe hours: 6400
- Engines: CONT MOTOR E225 SERIES 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brown David G
- Registered owner: Brown David G
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2008
- Departed: 1A6, MIDDLESBORO, KY
- Destination: DKX, Knoxville, TN
- Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island Airp

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 10 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 20080906847939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080906847939A), Sep 6, 2008: Beech G35, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was making a 25 minute flight form 1A6, middlesboro, KY to kdkx, Downtown Island airport, Knoxville, TN. The aircraft lost power on the base…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68882. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 774 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Operating Handbook Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316006&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20Excerpt-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Pilot%20Interview-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: FAA Inspector Interview (item 4, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector%20Interview-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: Mechanic Interview (item 5, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316007&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Mechanic%20Interview-Redacted.PDF

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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