CROCKETT, TX, USA
N5526D
BEECH J35
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM AN AUX TANK TO THE RIGHT MAIN UPON ENTERING THE PATTERN AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE INTO AN OPEN FIELD SHORT OF A TREE LINE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION REVEALED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAINS AND NO FUEL IN EITHER AUX TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND IN THE ENGINE.
On September 5, 1994, at 1140 central daylight time, a Beech J35, N5526D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Crockett, Texas. The airplane, flown by a private pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. According to the pilot, he flew the en route segment of the flight from Friendswood, Texas, to Crockett, Texas, on the auxiliary tanks; he did not specify which tank. The pilot stated that upon entering the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he switched the fuel selector to the right main. Shortly thereafter, the engine sustained a power loss. The pilot verified the fuel selector setting and switched the fuel boost pump to "emergency", and attempted to restart the engine; however, his efforts were unsuccessful. The pilot determined that he would be unable to make the airport and elected to stall the airplane into a field short of a tree line at the end of the runway. Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that there were 15 gallons of fuel in both the left and right main fuel tanks and no fuel in the auxiliary tanks. Examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction.
THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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