Beech 35-33 accident near Roanoke, Texas, November 18, 2010
On November 18, 2010 at about 1:40 am local time, a Beech 35-33, registered N5481, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Roanoke, Texas (Northwest Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2010 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Texas · Northwest Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-33 · all 35-33s on the register
- Registration
- N5481 · no longer on the register · serial CD-174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on base leg of the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the airplane lost engine power. The pilot completed the emergency checklist but was unable to restore engine power. During the forced landing near the airport, the airplane collided with several trees resulting in substantial damage. An engine test run was conducted while the motor was still attached to the airframe, utilizing an external fuel source attached to the left side fuel system. The engine started and accelerated to 2,400 rpm. Dark black smoke was observed from the exhaust system and the engine ran rough at full mixture. The engine ran smooth when leaned, and the leak rate on the metering unit return to the fuel pump was higher than normal. The exact cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,961 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 3,533 as pilot in command; 533 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2010; 9 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHKS Jackson MS at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 52F Roanoke TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; ovct at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.