Beech 35 accident near Bowman, North Dakota, August 26, 2018
On August 26, 2018 at about 5:55 pm local time, a 1962 Beech 35, registered N666WW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bowman, North Dakota (Bowman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The 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
- August 26, 2018 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bowman, North Dakota · Bowman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 B33, built 1962 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N666WW · no longer on the register · serial CD-572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot and the passenger departed on a cross-country personal flight; the pilot indicated that, shortly after takeoff, the engine started "sputtering" and then lost power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power to no avail and performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spars. A postaccident examination of the airframe, fuel system, and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Although both main fuel tanks were full, further examination revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel lines, fuel, pump, or engine forward of the airplane firewall and fuel selector. Thus, it is likely that the fuel selector valve was not secured in the detent properly, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to 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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,597 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,597 as pilot in command; 718 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 26, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,480.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 4,750 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBWW Bowman ND at 5:50 pm
- Destination: DIK Dickinson ND
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KHEI, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 2019. 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, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | 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.