# NTSB SEA98LA052: Beech S35, N3MG, Medford, OR, March 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 1998, 13:02 local (21:02 UTC) - Place: Medford, OR - Coordinates: 42.280651, -122.899932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2807&lon=-122.8999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA052 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate fuel management. Factors were the pilot's diverted attention and soft terrain in the forced landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on final, after being cleared to land, the engine quit without warning. Attempts to regain engine power, which included switching fuel tanks, were unsuccessful, and the pilot made a forced landing onto soft terrain 1/4 mile short of the runway. At the accident scene, 23 ounces of fuel were found in the left tank and 14 gallons of fuel were in the right tank. The pilot acknowledged that the power loss was due to fuel starvation, and stated that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. He stated that at about the time he was to have switched to the right tank, he became occupied with donning oxygen on himself and his children, and that shortly afterward his daughter started not feeling well and complained of headaches. The pilot stated that this situation distracted him from his other pilot duties. The engine power loss occurred about 45 minutes after this event. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 1998, approximately 1302 Pacific standard time, a Beech S35, N3MG, lost engine power and was forced-landed approximately 1/4 mile short of the runway while on visual approach to runway 32 at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford, Oregon. The airplane was substantially damaged in the forced landing, and the private pilot-in-command and two passengers (both children of the pilot) were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight departed Redlands, California (a straight-line distance of 565 nautical miles from Medford) at 0915. Visual meteorological conditions, with light rain, prevailed in the accident area, and the flight was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot reported that he departed Redlands with 74 gallons of fuel on board. An FAA on-scene investigator reported that at the accident site, the aircraft's left fuel tank contained 23 ounces of fuel, and the right tank contained 14 gallons of fuel. The FAA investigator reported that there was no evidence of a fuel leak or breached fuel tank at the accident site. The FAA investigator reported that he checked the airplane's electric fuel pump after the accident, and that it provided good fuel pressure. In his accident report to the NTSB, the pilot stated that on final approach for runway 32, after being cleared to land by Medford Tower, the engine quit without any warning. He stated that he tried switching tanks, a throttle and mixture adjustment, and an engine restart, all without success; he then had only enough time to land the airplane. He performed a forced landing onto a small, soft, level field on airport property. In his NTSB accident report, the pilot acknowledged that the engine power loss was due to fuel starvation, and reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. He stated that at about the time he was to have switched to the right tank, he was occupied with donning oxygen on himself and his children, and that soon afterward, his daughter started not feeling well and complained of headaches. The pilot stated that his concern for his daughter distracted him from his other pilot duties. The engine power loss occurred about 45 minutes after this event. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3MG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7856 - Airframe hours: 5642 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Curtis C. Hassell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1998, 13 hours before - Departed: L12, REDLANDS, CA - Destination: MFR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MFR, Rogue Valley Intl-Medford, runway 32 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 466 total, 293 in this make and model, 384 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 1 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 19980324009399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980324009399A), Mar 24, 1998: Beech S35, Medford, OR, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Crashed short of runway. Fuel selector on empty tank fuel in other. (.4)the pilot reported that on final, after being cleared to land,… 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.