Event CHI00LA048

Factual narrative

On December 17, 1999, at 1515 eastern standard time, a Beech 35, N5BB, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing and subsequent nose over near Hanover, Michigan, following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight departed from the Huntington Municipal Airport, Huntington, Indiana at 1415, and was en route to the Grindstone Air Harbor Airport, Port Austin, Michigan. The pilot of the aircraft has not submitted a report of the accident to the Safety Board. A post accident examination of the aircraft revealed no fuel remained in the left fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank, and approximately 2 inches of fuel remained in the right fuel tank when dipped. No anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft or it's systems. According to a written statement from the airplane's previous owner, who is a certified mechanic and flight instructor, the pilot purchased the aircraft on the day of the accident. He also stated that, prior to a brief familiarization flight, the pilot "...failed to visually check any fuel tank, drain any fuel drain, or open engine cowl to check oil or inspect engine." The previous owner said that, after the familiarization flight, the pilot had the aircraft fueled at the Owensboro-Daviess County Airport, Owensboro, Kentucky. He said that when the pilot left, "he [the pilot] made no preflight and did not inspect fuel quantity or security of fuel caps." The previous owner stated that, after the accident, the pilot contacted him by phone and by e-mail and admitted that he "...mismanaged the fuel system, failed to properly engage [the fuel] selector, took off and landed on auxiliary fuel, ran out of fuel on auxiliary fuel, and failed to consider that 20 gallons [of fuel] in [the] auxiliary [fuel tank] is only one hour and 20 minutes flying time because of the bypass to [the] left main [tank]." The previous owner stated that the pilot contends that previous maintenance "caused the problem, not his fuel mismanagement." The aircraft total time in service was not determined, however the aircraft had accumulated 7,308 hours as of the last annual inspection on November 01, 1999. Investigations revealed that the pilot did not hold a current medical certificate at the time of the accident. His last medical was dated 06-24-94. The date of the pilot's last flight review was unable to be determined. A Michigan Department of State Police report filed in response to the accident stated, "[the pilot] stated that while switching fuel tanks to equalize weight, the engine quit. [The pilot] stated that he attempted to switch back to a different fuel tank and still had no response from the engine. [The pilot] stated that he attempted to use the manual fuel hand-pump with no response from the engine." With no response from the engine, the pilot began searching for an emergency landing field. After choosing a nearby road, the pilot rejected the landing site due to vehicle traffic. He decided to use the field next to the road as an alternate. The selected landing site was actually a swamp. The aircraft contacted the ground and flipped over during the emergency landing. The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. A police report stated, '[the pilot] stated that while switching fuel tanks to equalize weight, the engine quit. [The pilot] stated that he attempted to switch back to a different fuel tank and still had no response from the engine. [The pilot] stated that he attempted to use the manual fuel hand-pump with no response from the engine.' The pilot landed the airplane in a swampy field adjacent to a road. The aircraft contacted the ground and flipped over during the landing. A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no fuel remained in the left fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank, and approximately 2 inches of fuel remained in the right fuel tank when dipped. No anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft or it's systems. The pilot had purchased the aircraft earlier in the day. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12