On January 10, 2001, a Beech V35B (registration N4002A) was involved in an aviation accident near Mesa, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper fuel management in cruise flight that resulted in a loss of engine power, because of fuel starvation, and a collision with a fence during the subsequent forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced engine surging approximately 5 miles from the airfield. After switching fuel tanks and activating the boost pump, power could not be restored. The aircraft performed a gear-up forced landing on a canal bank and struck a fence. Subsequent inspection revealed the left fuel tank contained about 1 quart of fuel while the right tank was half full.
Event Description
A pilot reported that while flying approximately 5 miles from the airfield, the engine began to surge while operating with the left fuel tank selected. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right tank and turned on the boost pump; however, engine power could not be regained. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing with the landing gear retracted on a canal bank. During the landing, the aircraft struck a fence.
Post-Accident Examination
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the aircraft at the accident scene. The left fuel tank was found to contain approximately 1 quart of fuel, and the right tank appeared to be half full. The aircraft was recovered to a storage facility. During post-accident testing, a vented fuel tank was connected to the fuel selector valve inlet for the left tank. With the left tank selected, the engine was started and operated for approximately 5 minutes without issue.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…