Accident Details
On September 6, 2008, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Beech G35, registration N4403D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Knoxville, Tennessee. The certificated airline transport pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The flight originated at the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport (1A6), Middlesboro, Kentucky. The pilot reported departing the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX) around 1100 with approximately 10 gallons of fuel in each tank. He flew a 20-minute flight to Middlesboro with the right fuel tank selected. Around 1530, he departed for the return trip with the left fuel tank selected. As the airplane turned onto final approach, the engine lost power. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot prepared for a forced landing to a river. The airplane stalled above the water, and after touchdown, both occupants egressed and swam to shore.
The pilot described the power loss as sounding like the airplane quit getting gas to the engine. He reported the airplane burned approximately 10 gallons of fuel per hour.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued on October 5, 2007. He reported 12,000 hours of total flight experience, with 150 hours in the accident airplane make and model. In the previous 90 days, he had flown 100 hours, of which 3 were in the accident airplane.
The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on September 1, 2008, and it had accumulated 6,400 total hours at the time of the accident. The pilot stated the flights on the day of the accident were the airplane's first after the inspection. He noted that before the inspection, the airplane had not been flown much, and the fuel was old (perhaps several months). The pilot performed a complete pre-flight inspection before each departure, including sumping the fuel tanks to check for contamination. He reported having 15 gallons of automotive fuel onboard before departure.
Weather Conditions
The weather recorded at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, 10 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1553, included wind from 280 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, a broken cloud layer at 5,500 feet, temperature 28°C, dew point 18°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.
Examination and Findings
The airplane was recovered from the river and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector noted substantial damage to the tail and fuselage. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed both tanks were empty, and the left fuel tank was selected.
Examination of the Beechcraft G35 Owner's Manual indicated that at altitudes between 2,000 and 6,000 feet, the engine consumed 13.6 to 14.1 gallons per hour.