Beech S35 accident near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, November 15, 2011
On November 15, 2011 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N5858S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It was a personal 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 pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2011 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N5858S · registry record · serial D-7750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed for the planned 1 hour, 40 minute flight with 58 total gallons of fuel. While in cruise flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot noticed no anomalies prior to the loss of engine power. After switching fuel tanks and several unsuccessful engine restart attempts, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that, at the time of the accident, he estimated that the left and right fuel tanks were about half-full of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed about 35 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and no fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was selected to the right tank. The right fuel tank was intact, and the left fuel tank bladder contained a tear, in which the fuel drained until it reached a level below the tear. No fuel was in the fuel lines from the right tank and through the engine fuel system, which was consistent with fuel starvation.
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 (total) during enroute defining event
- Fuel starvation during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,038 hours in all; 2,143 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,889 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 8, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAW Marquette MI at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 02C Brookfield WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.