Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI93LA360

MARSHFIELD, MO, USA

Aircraft #1

N650V

BEECH 35

Analysis

THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT WAUNAKEE, WISCONSIN, AND HAD AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS. THE PILOT MADE AN INTERMEDIATE STOP IN QUINCY, ILLINOIS, AND TOPPED OFF BOTH FUEL TANKS. EN ROUTE FROM QUINCY TO TEXARKANA, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT FUEL TANKS, AND THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR MARSHFIELD, MISSOURI. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A PARKED SNOW PLOW DURING LANDING ROLL.

Factual Information

On September 11, 1993, at 1430 central daylight time, a Beech BE-35, N650V, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parked snow plow during a forced landing near Marshfield, Missouri. The airplane had experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The personal flight originated at Quincy, Illinois, at 1240. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported the fuel selector handle had broken off and the valve could not be moved to another tank. The selector was positioned to the right tank which was empty. The left tank was full.

Probable Cause and Findings

fuel exhaustion due to the failure of the fuel tank selector valve handle which prohibited the pilot from switching to a tank containing fuel.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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