RHINEBECK, NY, USA
N5291C
BEECH C35
THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 12 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HIS DESTINATION WAS 12 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, AND THE ESTIMATED EN ROUTE TIME WAS 15 MINUTES. THE PILOT DECIDED TO NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ESTABLISHED A VFR FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 36. HE REPORTED THE 'AIR WAS QUITE ROUGH,' AND THE ENGINE 'SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED.' THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT A RESTART, OR REACH THE RUNWAY; THEREFORE, THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN THE TREES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'THE TROUBLE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE ROUGH AIR SLOSHING THE FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, CAUSING SLUGS OF AIR TO ENTER THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP.'
On Sunday, September 4, 1994, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Beech C35, N5291C, registered to and piloted by John M. Miller, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he preflighted the airplane prior to the flight, including a visual check of the fuel supply. He estimated the fuel load at 12 gallons, which he determined was sufficient fuel for the 15 minute flight. The pilot was performing a visual landing to runway 36, when "the engine suddenly slowed down and stopped." He initiated a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees in a densely wooded area, shearing off the right wing. The airplane came to rest inverted. In his report, the pilot stated, "the air was quite rough during the turn and approach....the trouble was probably caused by the rough air sloshing the fuel in the left tank, causing slugs of air to enter the fuel line to the fuel pump...It would have been more prudent to have topped off the left tank before takeoff."
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, resulting in fuel starvation and engine failure, and the subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing. A factor related to the accident was the turbulent air conditions during the approach.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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