Beechcraft J35 N8344D

Summary

On 14 August 1995 at about 14:42 local time, a Beechcraft J35 registered N8344D, operated by Candice A. Stewart, was involved in an accident near Englewood, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 1995 at 14:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Englewood, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Centennial (APA)

Coordinates

39.6393, -104.9901

Aircraft

Beechcraft J35

Registration

N8344D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Candice A. Stewart

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Leadville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA340

Nobody was injured.

INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE FUEL BOOST PUMP BY EITHER THE PILOT (WHO WAS BEING INSTRUCTED) OR BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE BRIEFING OF IMPROPER LEANING PROCEDURES BY THE CFI, LOCATION OF THE BOOST PUMP SWITCH NEXT TO THE THROTTLE WITHOUT A SAFEGUARD TO PREVENT ITS INADVERTENT OPERATION, AND THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING TAKEOFF ON A MOUNTAIN FLYING INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT (WITH A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR & 2 PILOTS ABOARD) LIFTED OFF ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE 4903' RUNWAY. HOWEVER, AFTER LIFT-OFF, IT FAILED TO CLIMB SUFFICIENTLY TO CLEAR THE PERIMETER FENCE, WHICH WAS ON HIGHER TERRAIN ABOUT 1560' FROM THE RUNWAY. THE FENCE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 60' ABOVE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A FIELD ABOUT 140' FROM THE FENCE. NO AIRCRAFT OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS ON DURING TAKEOFF (ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP WAS OPERATING NORMALLY). DURING A TEST RUN, THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY WITH THE BOOST PUMP OFF. WITH THE BOOST PUMP AT LOW BOOST, THERE WAS A 500 TO 700 RPM LOSS OF RPM; AT HIGH BOOST, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. THE LOCATION AND DESIGN OF THE BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS NON-STANDARD HAVING BEEN MOVED DURING AN STC AIRCRAFT ALTERATION. THE SWITCH WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE THROTTLE, WHERE IT COULD BE INADVERTENTLY OPERATED, AND IT HAD NO SAFEGUARD TO PREVENT SUCH OPERATION. INVESTIGATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE WERE NO LEANING PROCEDURES INCORPORATED IN THE PILOT MANUAL. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) HAD BRIEFED THE PILOTS TO LEAN THE ENGINE BY USING THE RPM. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE PROPERLY LEANED BY USING THE RPM GAUGE, SINCE IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.