Beech J35 accident near Chinle, Arizona, May 25, 1991
On May 25, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Beech J35, registered N593B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chinle, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO FUEL MISMANAGEMENT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chinle, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N593B · no longer on the register · serial D5398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RANCH CARETAKER SAID THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVED OVER THE RANCH AND MADE TWO LOW PASSES IN ORDER TO ATTRACT HIS ATTENTION TO THEIR ARRIVAL SO THAT HE COULD MEET THE AIRCRAFT. AT THE END OF THE SECOND LOW PASS, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY FAA INSPECTORS WHO REPORTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS WERE UP. BOTH MAGNETOS PRODUCED SPARKS WITH HAND ROTATION. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK POSITION. ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK. THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER AND THE ASSOCIATED FUEL LINES DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN FUEL.
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: 405 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Carrot & Gibbs, LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.