N1259M

On June 1, 2024, at 1355 Pacific Daylight time, a Beech 35-C33A, N1259M, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near San Diego, California. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that the fuel tanks were full when he departed on the approximate 330 nm cross-country flight. He departed with the fuel selector positioned on the left tank and switched to the right fuel tank about 200 nm into the flight. As the airplane approached Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, San Diego, an air traffic controller instructed the pilot to enter the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 28L and then to extend the leg 2 miles west of the airport. During the approach, he did not change the position of the fuel selector and noted that the fuel quantity gauges indicated that the right tank contained more fuel than the left. The auxiliary fuel pump was off as required by the checklist.

The pilot further stated that on final approach, about one mile from the runway, he fully extended the flaps. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and was “running rough.” The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power by enriching the mixture but was unable to restore engine rpm. The pilot determined he was too low to reach the runway and prepared to make a forced landing short of the runway. At about 20 ft above ground level (agl), the pilot flared and the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane touched down hard resulting in the nose gear collapsing. During the accident sequence, the left wing sustained substantial damage.