On November 1, 1985, a Beech A36TC (registration N3663K) was involved in an aviation accident near Bismarck, ND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Shortly after takeoff, a Beech A36TC pilot activated what he believed was the flap retraction lever, causing the engine to quit. A forced landing was made. Investigation revealed the emergency fuel pump switch, located adjacent to the flap lever, caused engine flooding when activated.
Incident Summary
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot of a Beech A36TC aircraft activated what he believed was the flap retraction lever. Immediately afterward, the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing approximately 1000 feet from the departure end of the runway.
Investigation Findings
During the subsequent investigation, the engine was started and functioned normally. However, when the emergency fuel pump (EFP) switch was activated, the engine quit due to flooding. This step was repeated several times with the same results. The EFP switch and the flap retraction lever are located approximately two inches apart.