# NTSB NYC97LA059: Beech J35, N88AA, Pittstown, NJ, March 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 1997, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Pittstown, NJ - Location: 40.5659° N, 74.9793° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SKY MANOR (N40), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5659&lon=-74.9793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39331/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA059 ## Probable cause the pilot's placing the fuel selector in the improper position causing fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. The loss of engine power resulted in a forced landing on the runway during an aborted landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, landing - aborted - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot reported that while preparing the airplane for landing, he placed the fuel selector to the auxiliary position. During climb-out following an aborted landing, the engine lost power as the landing gear retracted. The airplane landed back on the runway and came to rest 50 feet from the departure end. The pilot stated, 'The Bonanza Manual states not to use auxiliaries for take-off as there is a possibility they could unport.' According to the limitations section of the Beechcraft Pilot's Operating Handbook for the J35 Bonanza, 'Use auxiliary fuel in level flight only and do not use for take off or landing.' ## Factual narrative On March 2, 1997, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Beech J-35 Bonanza, N88AA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an aborted landing at the Sky Manor Airport (N40) near Pittstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and commercial pilot rated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at Morristown, New Jersey at approximately 1430, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview and in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported that while he was performing the before landing checks in preparation for landing at Sky Manor, he moved the fuel selector from the right main position to the left main position; however he did not visually confirm the position of the fuel selector because of its placement in the cockpit. He stated, "The pilot has to move his (left) leg and bend over to look at it." The pilot reported, "There was no indication of turbulence during the approach but when over the numbers the plane dropped and bounced. I was uncomfortable with the situation and called for a go-around." The pilot reported that during the initial climb of the aborted landing, the engine lost power as the gear retracted. He stated that the airplane landed back on the runway and came to rest 50 feet from the departure end. The pilot reported that when he went back in the airplane to turn the fuel selector off, he "..was amazed..." he found the fuel selector in the auxiliary position. The pilot stated, "The Bonanza Manual states not to use auxiliaries for take-off as there is a possibility they could unport." In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section of the Pilot/Operator Report the pilot stated, "Although fuel selector location does not lend itself to a visual check, I feel a visual confirmation of fuel selector location should be a mandatory part of my checklist..." According to the limitations section of the Beechcraft Pilot's Operating Handbook for the J-35 Bonanza, "Use auxiliary fuel in level flight only and do not use for take off or landing." The pilot did not report any mechanical deficiencies and an inspection of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspectors revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: N88AA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech J35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D5458 - Airframe hours: 3235 - Engines: Continental IO-470-CIB 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Edwin H. Johnson - Registered owner: Edto Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1996, 45 hours before - Departed: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ - Airport: N40, Sky Manor, runway 25, 2,439 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 821 total, 520 in this make and model, 715 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 22 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 19970302002869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970302002869A), Mar 2, 1997: Beech J35, Pittstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Switched tanks prior landing. Bounced landing. Began go around lost power at gear up. Selector on aux tanks. 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.