Beech 35-C33A accident near Fort Worth, Texas, July 14, 1989
On July 14, 1989 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Beech 35-C33A, registered N9497S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas. 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO PILOT MISMANAGEMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1989 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-C33A · all 35-C33As on the register
- Registration
- N9497S · no longer on the register · serial CE13
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES SHORT OF THE DESTINATION. THE AIRPLANE HIT A TREE, SOIL BANK, AND OVERTURNED. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED SINCE THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED AN ENGINE OVERHAUL.
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: 251 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1989; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 1:50 pm
- Destination: FTW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:42 pm from FTW, 22 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.