Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper fuel management in cruise flight that resulted in a loss of engine power, because of fuel starvation, and a collision with a fence during the subsequent forced landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On January 10, 2001, at 1307 hours mountain standard time, a Beech V35B, N4002A, sustained substantial damage when it lost power and landed in a field approximately 5 miles east of Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by a commercial pilot, who along with one passenger, suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed from Marana Northwest Regional Airport about 1200.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site and interviewed the pilot and examined the airplane.
The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight using the left fuel tank when the engine lost power. He switched to the right tank and turned on the boost pump but was unable to restart the engine and landed gear up in a canal striking a fence.
The FAA inspector reported that the left fuel tank contained about 1 quart of fuel and the right tank was approximately 1/2 full. The airplane was recovered to an aircraft storage facility. A vented fuel tank was connected to the fuel selector valve inlet for the left tank. With left tank selected, the engine started, and was run for approximately 5 minutes.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX01LA072