Beech V35A accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, August 1, 2004
On August 1, 2004, a Beech V35A, registered N222S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado (Walker Field). 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 planning and decision making resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing factors include the insufficient time to completely extend the landing gear, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2004
- Place
- Grand Junction, Colorado · Walker Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N222S · registry record · serial D9008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a local flight of approximately 2 hours, which included 3 taxi-back landings, the pilot requested a fourth departure. The pilot stated that, prior to the third landing, the right main fuel tank gauge was "indicating 1/3 full, at the top of the yellow arc," and prior to his fourth departure, the left main fuel gauge was indicating, "a little over 1/3 full, above the yellow arc." During the departure from runway 22, at approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost all power. The pilot completed a turn and attempted to land on runway 4. Unable to make the runway, the pilot was forced to land in a field. The airplane impacted the terrain approximately 100 feet left of the runway centerline, and came to a stop adjacent to the runway threshold. The impact with the terrain collapsed the landing gear, buckled the airplane's right forward keel beam and separated the step from the fuselage. The pilot stated that the total fuel on board at the last take-off was 26 gallons. The Beechcraft Bonanza Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states: "do not take off when Fuel Quantity Gauges indicate in the Yellow Band or with less then 13 gallons in each main tank."
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
- Flight time: 513 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 441 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 13, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,604.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2004; 4.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 34,004 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 6:10 pm
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.