Beech F-35 accident near Addison, Texas, December 28, 2002
On December 28, 2002 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Beech F-35, registered N3367C, was destroyed in an accident near Addison, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply by his failure to switch fuel tank positions which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. A contributing 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 28, 2002 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F-35 · all F-35s on the register
- Registration
- N3367C · no longer on the register · serial D-4034
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing after takeoff from Runway 15. According to witnesses, the airplane was traveling toward the east, at a "very low altitude," and parallel to Beltline Road. Two witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be gliding and they could not hear the sound of the engine. The witnesses also stated that they were unable to determine if the propeller was rotating. The aircraft impacted trees and terrain with the landing gear and flaps in the retracted position. There was no post-impact fire. The airplane was last refueled on December 20, 2002 with 24.8 gallons of 100LL fuel. Examination of the right fuel system revealed that there was three gallons of fuel in the tip tanks, and twelve gallons of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tank. The left main fuel cell was breached. The fuel selector was found in the right main tank position. Flight control continuity was established. No anomalies were found with the airframe at the accident site. The engine was successfully ran to full 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,329.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2002; 71.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N11B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 5:46 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from ADS, 2 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.