Beech BE-35 accident near Waxahachie, Texas, December 15, 1998
On December 15, 1998 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Beech BE-35, registered N213Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waxahachie, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A 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 15, 1998 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Waxahachie, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35
- Registration
- N213Q · registry record · serial D-7929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single engine airplane was airborne, at 3,500 feet for about 35 minutes. Just after a level turn, a 'rapid' loss of engine RPM occurred, and fuel flow indicators showed a decrease below 10 GPH flow rate. After the pilot switched 'on' the fuel boost pump and changed the fuel selector lever from the 'left' to 'right' main tank, there was no increase in power. During the emergency descent, a restart was attempted with no results. At this point, a forced landing was executed to a field with high vegetation. Usable fuel was found in both left and right wing fuel tanks. The engine ran throughout its normal RPM range during a test run. After the test run, pneumatic testing showed pressure drops when suction was introduced. Also, the airplane had experienced a fuel system problem about 2 weeks prior to the accident, but flew about 30 minutes after the engine driven fuel pump was removed, repaired, and replaced. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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: 681 hours in all; 507 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1998; 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: 2TS6 Midlothian TX at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.