Beechcraft F35 N3804B

Summary

On 22 August 1993 at about 19:45 local time, a Beechcraft F35 registered N3804B, operated by KEN Marson Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Medford, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 August 1993 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Medford, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Flying W (N14)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft F35

Registration

N3804B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

KEN Marson Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC93FA169

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT A FUEL TANK THAT CONTAINED FUEL, AND PERFORM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLIGHT IN THE AIRPLANE, REPORTED THAT BOTH MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE DOWN TO ONE QUARTER FULL, AND THE AUXILIARY TANK WAS AT THREE QUARTERS FULL. DURING REFUELING, THE PILOT OF THIS FLIGHT HAD ONLY THE LEFT TANK FILLED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, AND AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR OF FLYING TIME THE PILOT TRANSMITTED ON UNICOM THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS HE TRANSMITTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD REGAINED POWER MOMENTARILY AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, STRUCK A TREE, NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED SEVERAL OTHER TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 9 OUNCES OF FUEL WHILE 12 1/2 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE LEFT TANK AND 7 1/2 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE AUXILIARY. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST STAND WITH ALL ORIGINAL COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN WITH NO NOTICEABLE DEFICIENCIES. THE ELECTRICAL BOOST PUMP ALSO OPERATED WHEN TESTED. THIS WAS THE PILOTS SECOND FLIGHT AS A PIC IN THIS TYPE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.