Beech M35 accident near Tomball, Texas, January 22, 2023
On January 22, 2023 at about 5:27 pm local time, a 1960 Beech M35, registered N9306Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Tomball, Texas. It was an aerial observation 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2023 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Tomball, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35, built 1960 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9306Y · registry record · serial D-6515
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an aerial survey flight when the engine lost all power during cruise flight. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and he conducted a forced landing to a multi-lane highway. The airplane’s right main landing gear impacted the roof of a semi-trailer before the airplane rolled left wing down and descended into a concrete highway median. A postaccident fire ensued that destroyed most of the fuselage, cabin, and cockpit. A comprehensive examination of the airplane’s fuel system was not possible due to extensive thermal damage sustained during the postaccident fire. About 25 gallons of fuel was reportedly recovered from the fuel system before the wreckage was moved, but the amount of fuel recovered from each fuel tank was not individually documented. Both left and right wingtip fuel tanks exhibited extensive thermal damage and no residual fuel was found within the wingtip tanks. Fuel drained from the fuel selector when it was removed from the wreckage. The airframe fuel filter contained 1/8 to 1/4 cup of fuel. The fuel strainer was largely unobstructed, with only minor debris present. The airplane’s digital engine monitor was destroyed during the postaccident fire. Based on the pilot’s explanation of the fuel load, how the fuel was used during the flight, and a reported fuel consumption rate of 13.5 gallons per hour during cruise flight, there should have been ample fuel remaining to sustain normal engine operation. Examination of the engine did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. Ultimately, the investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 547 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,672.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Tff, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: IWS Houston TX at 4:08 pm
- Destination: T78 Liberty TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from DWH, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDWH 221753Z 32010G16KT 10SM CLR 13/02 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01330017 10144 20072 50002=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA088.