Beech J35 accident near Crockett, Texas, September 5, 1994
On September 5, 1994 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Beech J35, registered N5526D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crockett, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1994 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Crockett, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N5526D · no longer on the register · serial D-5062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM AN AUX TANK TO THE RIGHT MAIN UPON ENTERING THE PATTERN AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AND THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE INTO AN OPEN FIELD SHORT OF A TREE LINE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION REVEALED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAINS AND NO FUEL IN EITHER AUX TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND IN THE ENGINE.
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: airline transport pilot, foreign licence, private, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,796 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1994; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7XS0 Friendswood TX at 3:40 pm
- Destination: T56 TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
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.