- Date
- September 4, 1994, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Rhinebeck, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5291CBeech C35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940904025379A
- Case key
- 38823
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, resulting in fuel starvation and engine failure, and the subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing. A factor related to the accident was the turbulent air conditions during the approach.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot preflighted the airplane and determined that there was about 12 gallons of fuel on board. His destination was 12 miles from the departure airport, and the estimated en route time was 15 minutes. The pilot decided to not refuel the airplane prior to departure. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and established a VFR final approach to land on runway 36. He reported the 'air was quite rough,' and the engine 'suddenly slowed down and stopped.' The airplane's altitude was too low to attempt a restart, or reach the runway; therefore, the pilot was forced to land the airplane in the trees. According to the pilot, 'the trouble was probably caused by the rough air sloshing the fuel in the left tank, causing slugs of air to enter the fuel line to the fuel pump.'
Factual narrative
On Sunday, September 4, 1994, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Beech C35, N5291C, registered to and piloted by John M. Miller, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he preflighted the airplane prior to the flight, including a visual check of the fuel supply. He estimated the fuel load at 12 gallons, which he determined was sufficient fuel for the 15 minute flight.
The pilot was performing a visual landing to runway 36, when "the engine suddenly slowed down and stopped." He initiated a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees in a densely wooded area, shearing off the right wing. The airplane came to rest inverted.
In his report, the pilot stated, "the air was quite rough during the turn and approach....the trouble was probably caused by the rough air sloshing the fuel in the left tank, causing slugs of air to enter the fuel line to the fuel pump...It would have been more prudent to have topped off the left tank before takeoff."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5291C
- Reported as
- Beech C35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2681
- Airframe hours
- 4,515
- Engine
- Continental E-185-11, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John M. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 1994 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- POU · Poughkeepsie, NY
- Destination
- NY94
- Airport
- NY94 · Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, runway 36, 2,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 88
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 30,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 33 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- POU, 12 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.