Beech V35B accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, July 24, 2005
On July 24, 2005 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N9JQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina (Rock Hill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply , which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2005 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Hill, South Carolina · Rock Hill · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9JQ · no longer on the register · serial D-9273
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately four miles away from destination airport the pilot canceled the instrument flight plan and continued the flight under visual flight rules. Review of radar data revealed the flight continued 10 miles southwest of the destination airport, and was observed maneuvering before returning to the airport. Witnesses approximately a mile away from the airport reported that the engine was cutting in and out, and subsequently lost power. The airplane descended until it was below a nearby tree line. First responders to the crash site reported that the downed airplane was located in a subdivision one mile southwest of the Rock Hill Airport. The post accident examination of the fuel system revealed that there was no fuel found in the fuel lines from the main tanks to the fuel (mechanical) pump. Fuel selector was found in the left tip tank position. The electrical cross feed selector switch was in the off position. No fuel was found in the left tip tank, and the left tip tank was not breached. According to the certified fight instructor, he did not remember or recall any details of the actual flight nor of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 hours in all
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,565.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 162.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 1:00 pm
- Destination: UZA Rockhill SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KUZA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.