Beech 35 accident near Geary, Oklahoma, September 9, 2012
On September 9, 2012 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3014V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Geary, Oklahoma (Mckinley Ranch Airport). 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 student pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during a forced landing attempt which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's delay in taking control of the airplane and the 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
- September 9, 2012 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Geary, Oklahoma · Mckinley Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3014V · no longer on the register · serial D-416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful local instructional flight, the student pilot and instructor pilot were practicing emergency landing procedures. After a missed approach to the private ranch airport, the student attempted a go-around. During the go-around, there was a loss of engine power during the climb and the student pilot tried to set up for an actual emergency landing. While maneuvering the airplane to land, both the instructor pilot and student attempted to trouble shoot and regain engine power by switching fuel tanks attempting a restart. About 20 feet above the runway, the airplane stalled, impacted the runway, and came to a stop in a grassy area to the left of the runway. Both wings sustained substantial damage. After the accident, the student pilot, who owned the airplane, stated that he may have moved the fuel selector lever to the left tank position while he and the instructor were trying to trouble shoot the loss of engine power. The instructor pilot occupied the right seat and would not have been able to see the fuel selector lever position. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed that both the right main fuel tank and auxiliary fuel tank had usable fuel. The left main fuel tank was empty and was not compromised. The fuel selector lever was found in the left tank position. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other preimpact abnormalities were found. Although the loss of engine power could be linked to possible fuel starvation, the cause for the loss of engine power could not be substantiated.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,929 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 1,791 as pilot in command; 255 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 2 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E185 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJA Weatherford OK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: OJA Weatherford OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from CLK, 25 miles away
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.