# NTSB WPR22LA062: Beech K35, N654HR, Temecula, CA, December 11, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 11, 2021, 14:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Temecula, CA - Coordinates: 33.5, -117.22 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5000&lon=-117.2200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104388 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104388/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104388 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA062 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech K35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Beech K35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech K35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 8 minutes after takeoff, the airplane’s engine began running rough and lost power. The pilot initiated an emergency landing in a vineyard, and during the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck posts. The airplane wreckage was inadvertently sold before an examination could be accomplished; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 11, 2021, about 1455 Pacific standard time, a Beech K35 airplane, N654HR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Temecula, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that about 8 minutes after takeoff, while at a cruise altitude of about 3,100 ft mean sea level, the engine started to run rough and lose power. He activated the fuel pump and switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank but that did not resolve the issue. The engine continued to lose power until it was not producing any power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land on a golf course fairway but had to abort the approach due to individuals on the fairway. Subsequently, the pilot elected to make a forced landing in a nearby grape vineyard. He intentionally kept the landing gear retracted to minimize any entanglement with the wire that was used to support growing the grape vines. During the landing sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings when it struck posts that supported the wire. Before an airframe and engine examination could be accomplished, the airplane wreckage was inadvertently sold. Therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N654HR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N654HR), registered now, S/N D-5840, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH K35 - Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5840 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 6509 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2021 - Departed: F70, Murrieta, CA - Destination: HMT, Hemet, CA - Airport: NA - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 232 total, 127 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KHMT, 17 nm away - METAR: KHMT 112255Z AUTO 36007KT 10SM CLR 17/M08 A3009 RMK AO2 T01751079 ## 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 20211211021009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211211021009A), Dec 11, 2021: Beech K35, Temecula, CA, Substantial damage. On December 11, 2021, about 1455 pacific standard time, a Beech K35 airplane, N654HR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104388. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15468290&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Final%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14825102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record 2 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15474653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%202-Rel.pdf 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.