Beech BE-35 accident near Minot, North Dakota, September 23, 1996
On September 23, 1996 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech BE-35, registered N1368Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minot, North Dakota (Minot International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel management was not performed and starvation of the fuel system. A factor involved was inadequate in-flight planning/decision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1996 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Minot, North Dakota · Minot International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35
- Registration
- N1368Z · no longer on the register · serial D-6789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a three mile final approach to landing after being aloft for three hours, the engine sputtered and lost total power. The pilot flipped the switch to his right fuel tank and tried to restart the engine. It wouldn't start. On the return flight, the pilot had forgotten to switch the tank to the right one before he ran out. He stated he always does it, but forgot this time. The airplane landed 2 1/4 miles short of the runway. The airplane's nose was blocked up and after several turns, the engine started and ran with no discrepancies noticed.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 509 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 416 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,071 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STP St. Paul MN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: MOT ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,758 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from MOT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.