Casualties unknown

Forced Landing After Engine Failure Results in Gear Collapse (N2012D)

Mokane, MO, US

On December 24, 1999, a Beech BE-35 (registration N2012D) was involved in an aviation accident near Mokane, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to make accurate fuel consumption calculations and the pilot's improper emergency procedures for engine re-start. A factor was the ditch. 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 reported that after the engine stopped, he did not switch fuel tanks as per emergency procedures. The left tank was selected and nearly empty; the right tank had fuel. Landing gear collapsed during rollout after bouncing over a ditch.

Event Details

The pilot reported that after the engine quit, he scanned the gauges. The left fuel tank indicated 1/4 tank of fuel. The pilot reported that the left fuel tank was selected, but he did not change the fuel selector to the right fuel tank when he tried to perform an engine re-start. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field, but the landing gear collapsed after it 'bounced over a little drainage ditch' during landing rollout.

Pilot Report

After the landing, the pilot inspected the left wing tank for fuel. He reported he 'couldn't see gas in the tank,' and that the left tank was 'pretty empty.' He checked the right tank and estimated there was 3 to 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank. The right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot reported he had fueled the airplane with approximately one hour of fuel in each tank, and he had flown for approximately one hour when the engine quit.

Emergency Procedure

The airplane's flight manual lists '(1) Select other fuel tank (check to feel detent)' as a step in the emergency procedures for loss of engine power.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X20215. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.