Accident Summary
On December 1, 2024, at approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Beech 35-33, registration N109V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Willcox, Arizona. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries.
Event Details
The pilot reported that after completing steep turns and stalls, the airplane was descended to 7,200 ft mean sea level to practice GPS approach procedures at Cochise County Airport (P33), Willcox, Arizona. While performing the pre-landing checklist, the pilot moved the fuel selector valve from the left to the right wing tank. A few seconds later, the engine lost power. The pilot then switched the selector back to the left tank and checked the mixture control position. He activated the fuel boost pump for 5 seconds and again switched fuel tank positions, but was unable to restore engine power.
At the time of the power loss, the onboard instrumentation indicated 12 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank and 22 gallons in the right wing tank. The pilot initiated a forced landing, extending the flaps and retracting the landing gear due to the terrain and vegetation. The airplane touched down and slid approximately 260 ft across desert terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Aftermath
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination. The investigation focused on the fuel system and the pilot’s actions during the emergency.