Beech F35 accident near Elk City, Oklahoma, December 14, 1999
On December 14, 1999 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N3359C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elk City, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1999 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elk City, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N3359C · no longer on the register · serial D-4025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the airplane was flying at 10,500 feet msl. The pilot added that the left main fuel tank was selected for 30 minutes, he then selected the auxiliary fuel tanks for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and then selected the right main fuel tank. Approximately 15 minutes later, with all of the engine instruments indicating normal operation, the engine lost power, followed after approximately 1 to 2 seconds by a growling noise and shaking of the airplane. The pilot indicated that the growling increased and decreased in severity and eventually there was complete silence. The pilot performed the normal engine restart procedures to no avail. The pilot landed in a field, with the landing gear retracted, and the airplane impacted a ditch during the landing roll. The auxiliary fuel tanks were found empty, the right main fuel tank was approximately full, and the left main fuel tank was approximately 1/4 full. Further examination of the aircraft and engine was not accomplished due to the owner selling the airplane.
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: 350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKO Muskogee OK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: TYL Taylor AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 30 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from CSM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.