Beech 35-C33 accident near Addison, Texas, May 4, 2009
On May 4, 2009 at about 2:06 am local time, a Beech 35-C33, registered N528BM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Addison, Texas (Addison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilots' inadequate fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2009 · about 2:06 am local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-C33 · all 35-C33s on the register
- Registration
- N528BM · no longer on the register · serial CD-1056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two commercial pilots (one of which was the owner) flew to the accident location and dropped off a passenger. Prior to the first flight the owner pilot had checked the fuel levels and determined there was enough fuel to make their desired flights. Neither pilot ensured the fuel selector was selecting the fullest tank prior to the second takeoff. On departure and about 200 feet above the ground the engine began sputtering and then lost power. The pilots switched fuel tanks in-flight, but the engine did not restart. The airplane landed short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injuries to both pilots. Examination of the airplane revealed the right main tank was empty and the fuel selector was selected to the left main tank.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Flight crew
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,020 hours in all; 816 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 923 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 905 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 419 in the last 90 days; 144 in the last 30 days; 858 as pilot in command; 399 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 577 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 16, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,858 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 2:05 am
- Destination: T67 Hicks Airfield TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 7,202 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; ovct at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 am from ADS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.