# NTSB NYC94LA168: Beech C35, N5291C, Rhinebeck, NY, September 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 1994, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Rhinebeck, NY - Coordinates: 41.920608, -73.899253 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9206&lon=-73.8993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA168 ## 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 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 - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5291C-1994-10-14), registration cancelled 1994-10-14, S/N D2681 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C35 - Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2681 - Airframe hours: 4515 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940904025379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940904025379A), Sep 4, 1994: Beech C35BEECH, Rhinebeck, NY, Substantial damage. Depart with 12 gal. Fuel for short flight. Low fuel unported on approach in rough air. Struck trees landing short. 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.