Casualties unknown

Fuel Selector Failure Leads to Forced Landing and Collision with Snow Plow (N650V)

Marshfield, MO, US

On September 11, 1993, a Beech 35 (registration N650V) was involved in an aviation accident near Marshfield, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: fuel exhaustion due to the failure of the fuel tank selector valve handle which prohibited the pilot from switching to a tank containing fuel. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot en route from Quincy, Illinois to Texarkana, Arkansas experienced fuel starvation when the fuel tank selector handle broke off during a tank switch. A forced landing in a field near Marshfield, Missouri resulted in a collision with a parked snow plow.

Flight Origins and Stops

The flight originated in Waunakee, Wisconsin, with an intended destination of Texarkana, Arkansas. The pilot made an intermediate stop in Quincy, Illinois, where both fuel tanks were topped off.

En Route Incident

During the leg from Quincy to Texarkana, the pilot attempted to switch fuel source from the right tank to the left tank. While performing this action, the fuel tank selector handle broke off. As a result, the engine experienced a loss of power due to fuel starvation.

Forced Landing

The pilot executed a forced landing in a field near Marshfield, Missouri. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a parked snow plow.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X13373. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.