Beech G35 accident near Columbus, Mississippi, August 15, 1999
On August 15, 1999 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4473D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Mississippi. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and unsuitable terrain to make a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1999 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4473D · no longer on the register · serial 4614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and the airplane had been topped-off with aviation fuel. During the engine run-up, all systems reportedly operated normally, and no obvious engine problems were noted. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot report that while practicing the stall series, the engine lost power. After attempts to regain full engine power, the flight instructor took control of the airplane and made a forced landing to a corn field. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, a substantial amount of fuel was observed in the fuel system. The examination also disclosed that there was no fuel present in the fuel flow divider. The engine examination failed to disclose a mechanical problem with the engine. However, the examination of the airplane revealed that a lawn mower battery was installed in the airplane. According to the pilot, an annual inspection had been completed by the previous owner several days before the purchase.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 334 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,064 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UBS at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from GTR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.