Beech 35-C33A accident near Pueblo, Colorado, July 27, 2014
On July 27, 2014 at about 2:26 pm local time, a 1966 Beech 35-C33A, registered N72CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Pueblo, Colorado (Pueblo Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from the pilot’s improper fuel management and resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2014 · about 2:26 pm local time
- Place
- Pueblo, Colorado · Pueblo Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-C33A, built 1966 · all 35-C33As on the register
- Registration
- N72CW · registry record · serial CE-69
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while on final approach with the engine idling, he advanced the mixture control to the "full rich" position and the propeller control to the "high rpm" position in case he had to perform a go-around. The engine immediately lost power, and the airplane started to lose altitude. The pilot turned the airplane to avoid a ravine ahead and subsequently made a forced landing on rough terrain. The engine was functionally tested in a test cell to full power, and no anomalies were noted. About 25 gallons of usable fuel were found in the right fuel tank. However, the fuel tank selector was found positioned to the left fuel tank, and only 1/2 gallon of fuel was found in the left tank; therefore, it is likely the engine was starved of available fuel. If the pilot had been monitoring the fuel in flight and switched the fuel tank selector to the right fuel tank, the engine likely would not have been starved of fuel.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,254 hours in all; 723 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,171 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 2013; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,303 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 550-B-AP (piston); 2,919 hours total
- Operator: Henke Petroleum CORP
The flight
- Departed from: KSNL Shawnee Regiona OK at 12:25 pm
- Destination: KPUB Pueblo CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08L, 10,496 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KPUB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 10, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Email from Continental Motors - Engine Run Results | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email from Continental Motors - Fuel Consumption | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - Ground Scar | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 - Left Front View | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 - Right Front View | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 4 - Engine | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.