Beechcraft J35 N8246D

Summary

On 18 November 2006 at about 02:30 local time, a Beechcraft J35 registered N8246D was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 November 2006 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG)

Coordinates

35.1506, -111.6581

Aircraft

Beechcraft J35

Registration

N8246D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chinle → Flagstaff

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX07LA037

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning while on approach which lead to a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the completion of a cross country flight the engine experienced a loss of power while the aircraft was on approach. The aircraft collided with trees and came to rest about 300 yards north of the approach end of the runway. A witness located near the airport described hearing an aircraft on approach to the airport. The witness then heard the aircraft's engine surge and rev loudly three times before going silent. About 10 seconds after hearing the engine go silent, the witness reported hearing a loud crash. The witness then proceeded toward the sound of the crash and found the aircraft near one of the outlying lights of the approach lighting system. He noted that there was no smell of fuel at the accident site. An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found that the left main fuel tank had been compromised and there were 5 gallons of fuel in the right main tank. He noted that the fuel selector was in the auxiliary tanks position. The before landing checklist in the aircraft flight manual for the accident airplane indicated that prior to landing, the fuel selector must be positioned to the "Main Tank More Nearly Full." The inspector removed the inlet and outlet lines from the fuel manifold and observed no fuel in any line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.