Beechcraft B35 N5210C

Summary

On 23 August 1998 at about 17:40 local time, a Beechcraft B35 registered N5210C was involved in an accident near Iowa City, Iowa, United States. 2 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

23 August 1998 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Iowa City Municipal (IOW)

Coordinates

41.6506, -91.5293

Aircraft

Beechcraft B35

Registration

N5210C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CHI98LA328

Nobody was injured.

The fuel starvation due to improper fuel management by the pilot-in-command. Also, the aircraft procedures and directives which were not followed by the pilot-in-command is an additional cause. The rough and uneven terrain in addition to the low altitude of the aircraft were contributing factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Examination of the aircraft found the fuel selector was selected to the left main fuel tank and the left main fuel tank was 3/4 full of a light blue colored fuel. The right tank was empty and the 20 gallon auxiliary fuel tank was estimated to be 1/2-3/4 full of fuel. The engine, Teledyne Continental E185-11, serial number 26643-D-8-11, was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors for examination and testing under the supervision of the National Transportation Safety Board. The testing and examination revealed no anomalies. The limitations section of the Beechcraft B35 Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states, 'Do not take off when the Fuel Quantity Gages indicate in the Yellow Band or with less than 10 gallons in each main tank.'. Furthermore, the systems description of fuel tank selection in the POH states, 'In no case should a take-off be made ... with less than 10 gallons of fuel in each main tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.