Beech 35-A33 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, July 18, 2003
On July 18, 2003 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech 35-A33, registered N44CN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper use of the mixture control. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to select the battery/alternator circuit, resulting in a loss of battery power, the pilot's failure to follow a checklist and the lack of suitable terrain for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2003 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-A33 · all 35-A33s on the register
- Registration
- N44CN · no longer on the register · serial CD-358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed a forced landing following a loss of engine power during a go-around. The 1,834-hour pilot stated that en route, the engine performance "appeared normal," however, he stated that Air Traffic Control communications became difficult. He reported to have had intermittent radio trouble with Air Route Traffic Control Center and Approach Control. The pilot contacted Flight Service Station and obtained a frequency for the Regional Approach Control. He received a new frequency, squawk and an assigned heading and altitude. The pilot reported that he experienced intermittent radio contact and heard a loud "buzzing" noise in his headset. At this time, the fuel gages "showed" a sudden change, indicating low fuel. The pilot announced to Regional Approach Control (in the blind) that he had lost radio contact and would proceed directly to T67, in accordance with the flight plan. The pilot configured the airplane for an approach to Runway 32. As he continued the approach, he stated that he visually confirmed that the flaps were extended but the landing gear had not fully extended. The pilot elected to initiate a go-around. He "pushed" all of the power controls forward, however he heard the engine "sputter" and reported that it did not produce enough power to induce a positive rate of climb. An examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear was found in the retracted position, and the landing gear control switch was found in the gear down position. The battery was removed and a gravity test was performed. The results were that the battery was "dead." The alternator was removed, tested for function, and passed. A total of 31.5 gallons of fuel was removed from the aircraft. The mixture control was found halfway between the full-rich and cut-off position. The owner stated "the engine roughness was due to the pilot's failure to push the mixture control to the full-rich position prior to the approach/landing."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,831 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,620 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,545.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2002; 43.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCH Nacogdoches TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: T67 Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from AFW, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.