Beech V35A accident near Clinton, Louisiana, March 10, 1996
On March 10, 1996 at about 5:55 am local time, a Beech V35A, registered N8323N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector which resulted in fuel starvation. Factors were the dark night light condition and the worn spark plugs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1996 · about 5:55 am local time
- Place
- Clinton, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N8323N · no longer on the register · serial D-8736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night cross-country flight, the engine lost power and a forced landing ensued. The airplane touched down with a 'heavy vertical impact.' Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank selector was in the right tank position; however, the right wing tank was empty. The left tank contained approximately 9 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported that he was operating on the right tank when the power loss occurred, and that he switched to the left tank and attempted to restart the engine several times without success. All 12 of the spark plugs were found to have excessive plug gap, and testing of 2 of the plugs revealed that they would not fire over 40 PSI of pressure. Properly gapped spark plugs should fire steadily when tested up to pressures of 115 to 135 psi.
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: 20,640 hours in all; 5,700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKL Jackson TN at 4:10 am
- Destination: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BTR, 23 miles away
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.