Beechcraft BE-35 N2963V

Summary

On 9 June 2001 at about 14:59 local time, a Beechcraft BE-35 registered N2963V was involved in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 June 2001 at 14:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Springdale, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG)

Coordinates

36.1794, -94.2303

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-35

Registration

N2963V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springdale → Morristown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA140

2 people were seriously injured.

the loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single-engine airplane struck wires and the terrain following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. Witness descriptions were: "lost altitude after takeoff, flying very low, struggling, low airspeed, low rpm's, yawing to gain altitude, struggling for power, not enough forward speed to sustain flight, and yawing just above a stall." Witness descriptions of the engine were: "sounded very flat, having trouble getting full revs, and cutting out." Witnesses observed the airplane turn left "sharply, waver, swerve back and forth, strike a power line, dive down, gain altitude, and strike the second power line." Subsequently, the witnesses observed the airplane impact the ground with the left wing and spin around about 80 degrees before coming to rest. Local authorities reported that the left fuel tank was empty, the right fuel tank was full, and fuel was leaking from the aircraft. Local authorities turned off switches in the cockpit and de-activated the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). Airport personnel reported that the fuel tanks were topped the day before the accident, with 10.3 gallons, and the accident flight was the first known flight since that refueling. The FAA inspector reported "no usable fuel found in the left wing tank. No fuel found on ground under the left wing. No dead grass. No stained grass. No strong odor of fuel." The inspector reported the fuel selector had the "left tank selected." The right wing tank was full. The airframe and engine representative confirmed the integrity of the left wing fuel tank and fuel line continuity from the three fuel tanks to the fuel selector valve. The auxiliary fuel tank was full of fuel. The fuel pump was rotated and a few drops of fuel were found in the fuel pump lines. No anomalies were found that would have prevented fuel flow through the fuel system. The pilot does not have any memory of the events before or after the accident. The initial on scene response of local authorities, airport personnel, and other numerous individuals, precluded a determination of the cockpit switch positions, the fuel selector position, and the amount of fuel on board prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.