# NTSB SEA93LA149: Beech V35B, N4084S, Friday Harbor, WA, July 7, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1993, 18:30 local (Jul 7, 1993, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Friday Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 48.530151, -123.059165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5302&lon=-123.0592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA149 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION AND POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON THE BEACH. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT SEVERAL GALLONS OF FUEL DRAINED FROM THE IMPACT DAMAGED RIGHT WING QUICK DRAIN BEFORE THE DRAIN WAS PLUGGED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER. THE LEFT WING WAS INTACT. FUEL DRAINED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK REVEALED THAT ONE-HALF GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED. DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL AS TO WHICH FUEL TANK THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1993, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, N4084S, experienced a loss of engine power during the descent for landing at Friday Harbor, Washington. The airplane was unable to make it to the runway so the pilot performed an emergency landing on the beach. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Aurora, Oregon, on July 6, 1993, at 1700, and was en route to Friday Harbor. The pilot reported that the engine gradually lost power as if it was out of fuel. There were no other indications of a problem. The pilot made several attempts to restart the engine, however, they were unsuccessful. The pilot reported that he does not recall as to which fuel tank the fuel selector was positioned to prior to the loss of power. After the accident, it was noted that the right wing quick drain was damaged and stuck in the open position. Several gallons of fuel leaked from the drain before it was plugged approximately 30 minutes later. The left wing was intact and no fuel was noted to be leaking. During the removal of the airplane from the beach, the fuel was drained from the fuel tanks. Approximately one-half gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank, and one-and-a-half gallons were drained from the right fuel tank. During the engine inspection, no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4084S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4084S), registered now, S/N D-9729, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-9729 - Airframe hours: 1558 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Allred, Douglas R. - Registered owner: Allred, Douglas R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 1993, 10 hours before - Departed: 3S2, AURORA, OR - Airport: FHR, Friday Harbor ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,636 total, 2,206 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NUW, 18 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 19930706022589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930706022589A), Jul 6, 1993: Beech V35B, Friday Harbor, WA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on approach to airport. Landed on a beach. Fuel tanks empty of useable fuel. 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.