# NTSB SEA08CA099: Beechcraft 35-C33A, N4833J, Prescott, AZ, March 29, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 29, 2008, 06:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.657501, -112.421386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6575&lon=-112.4214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67738/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA099 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper preflight and failure to select a tank containing fuel before takeoff. ## 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 35-C33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 35-C33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing on an early morning flight and said that he performed his preflight and pretakeoff checklists. During the takeoff roll, he realized that he had forgotten to switch the fuel tank from the left tank (containing less than 1 gallon of fuel) to the right tank (containing about 35 gallons of fuel). The pilot switched the fuel tank selector from the left tank to the right tank during the takeoff roll, and during the initial climb, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot force-landed the airplane off the end of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a fence post and incurred substantial damage to the left wing. Following the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the fuel transfer system on the airplane and successfully test ran the engine. No mechanical anomalies were identified. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing on an early morning flight. He performed his preflight and pretakeoff checklists. During the takeoff roll, he realized that he had forgotten to switch the fuel tank from the left tank (containing less than 1 gallon of fuel) to the right tank (containing about 35 gallons of fuel). The pilot switched the fuel tank selector from the left tank to the right tank during the takeoff roll, and during the initial climb, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot force-landed the airplane off the end of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a fence post and incurred substantial damage to the left wing. Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the fuel transfer system on the airplane and successfully test ran the engine. No mechanical anomalies were identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4833J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4833J-2012-12-04), registration cancelled 2012-12-04, S/N CE-118, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beechcraft 35-C33A - Registry model: [Beech 35-C33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-c33a) (registry code 1151410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-118 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald Carter - Registered owner: B-C Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: PRC, Ernest A. Love Field Airport, runway 21L, 7,550 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 797 total, 453 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PRC ## 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 20080329832559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080329832559A), Mar 29, 2008: Beech 35C33A, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he had started his checklist when he realized that he had forgotten to bring his flight bag. When he got back in the aircraft, he did… 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.