# NTSB SEA98LA172: Beech V35B, N35MM, Sagle, ID, August 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1998, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Sagle, ID - Coordinates: 48.180545, -116.559066 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1805&lon=-116.5591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43899 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43899/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA172 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot reported that while approaching the airport, the engine lost power. The pilot switched from the left fuel tank to the right, and his attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the gear-up landing, the airplane spun around, slid through a drainage ditch and a fence before coming to rest. Inspection of the airplane revealed that less than a quart of fuel was present in the left fuel tank, and about 9 gallons of fuel was in the right fuel tank. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. The pilot stated that he had flown this route before and on the previous flight, he had refueled. On the day of the accident, the pilot elected not to refuel. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1998, at 1520 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, N35MM, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, initiated a forced landing after the engine experienced a loss of power. During the emergency landing to a field near Sagle, Idaho, the aircraft collided with an embankment. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight had originated from San Luis Obispo, California, about four and a half hours prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that approximately ten miles south of the airport, he initiated three medium-bank turns and one steep turn to lose altitude for landing. The pilot stated that he then turned north and flew toward the airport, descending another 200 feet, when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he immediately switched the fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank, and initiated the checklist procedures in an attempt to restart the engine. The attempts to restart the engine failed, and the pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. The aircraft touched down with the landing gear retracted, and a five to ten degree bank angle. After touchdown, the airplane spun around as it skidded over the uneven pasture. The airplane skidded through a drainage ditch and fence before coming to rest on a county road. A mechanic from Sandpoint Aviation was retained to recover the airplane from the field. Prior to the removal of the airplane, the mechanic raised the aircraft and determined that the fuel sample drains were intact, and there was no evidence found to indicate that the fuel tanks had been compromised. The mechanic then proceeded to drain fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. The mechanic reported that the left-side fuel tank contained less than one quart of fuel. The right-side fuel tank contained between eight and nine gallons of fuel. The airplane was moved to Sandpoint Aviation for further inspection. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standards District Office reported that during the engine inspection, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. The inspector reported that there was no evidence of fuel in the fuel system. Shortly after the accident, the pilot stated to the inspector that, at the time of the loss of engine power, the fuel selector was positioned on the left side. The pilot also stated to the inspector that he had flown this route before and had refueled en route. On the day of the accident, the pilot elected not to refuel en route. ## Aircraft - Registration: N35MM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-9467 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B4F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Red Tail Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SBP, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Destination: SZT, SANDPOINT, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 190 total, 74 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SZT, 5 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 19980827037299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980827037299A), Aug 27, 1998: Beech V35B, Sagle, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1,200' AGL, the pilot inadvertently exhausted the fuel from the left main tank. Pilot immediately began forced landing procedures and… 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.