Beech V35A accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, March 31, 2003
On March 31, 2003 at about 3:30 am local time, a Beech V35A, registered N95DC, was destroyed in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel starvation due to the pilot's mismanagement of his fuel supply and failure to verify the fuel quantity onboard prior to departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2003 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N95DC · registry record · serial D-8615
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost engine power at 300 feet during the climb out from a touch-and-go and collided with obstacles during the forced landing. The pilot said he visually checked the fuel level in both main tanks before the flight and said he could see that the fuel level was below the lower tab (the tab indicates 27 gallons of usable fuel per the pilot's operating handbook). He estimated that the airplane had about 15 gallons in each main tank. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that there was no evidence of fuel in either the left main or the left tip tanks. The right main and right tip tanks had been breached, making it not possible to determine the amount of fuel on board. Examination of the fuel system disclosed no evidence of fuel in any of the fuel lines or the left main and left tip fuel tanks. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure was found in the engine. The top spark plugs were removed and visually examined. All exhibited lean operating signatures.
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: 2,126 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2002; 95.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KVGT Las Vegas NV at 3:15 am
- Destination: KVGT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from KVGT
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.