# NTSB WPR23LA262: Beech P35, N9520Y, Shelter Cove, CA, July 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 8, 2023, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Shelter Cove, CA · 200 yards in the Pacific Ocean - Coordinates: 40.028167, -124.0743 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0282&lon=-124.0743&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192580/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192580 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA262 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not located and recovered. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech P35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with 74 gallons of fuel onboard for the flight of about 84 nm. After an uneventful flight the pilot selected the runway that was favored by prevailing winds. He then extended the landing gear and reduced power while the airplane was on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern over the ocean. The pilot encountered a partial loss of engine power as he turned to the base leg and the airplane began to descend from 800 ft above ground level. He performed emergency procedures for a loss of power from memory, but the engine continued to run at low power. Unable to maintain altitude, the airplane impacted the ocean and sank. The pilot and passenger, who were both seriously injured, egressed the airplane and swam to shore. Subsequent efforts to locate and recover the airplane were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9520Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9520Y), registered now, S/N D-7016, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH P35 - Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (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-7016 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 4174 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2023 - Departed: 1O2, Lakeport, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0Q5, Shelter Cove - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 553.5 total, 97.5 in this make and model, 488.2 as pilot in command, 25.2 in the last 90 days, 8.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KFOT, 32 nm away - METAR: KFOT 081935Z AUTO 30006KT 10SM OVC017 14/12 A3000 RMK AO1 ## 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 20230708022399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230708022399A), Jul 8, 2023: Beech P35, Sheltor Cove, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft was approaching Shelter Cove, CA. Airport… Somewhere between the aircraft being abeam the numbers and the base turn, the engine began running rough… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192580. 161 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16374944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email correspondence with pilot (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 245 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16375389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=email%20correspondence%20with%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from aircraft logbooks (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16375295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=aircraft%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video of accident (item 4, MOV, 154 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16375197&FileExtension=mov&FileName=IMG_3745-Rel.mov 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.