Beech B35 accident near Indian Springs, Nevada, October 24, 1993
On October 24, 1993 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5005C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indian Springs, Nevada (Indian Springs Afaf airport). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SELECTOR, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND HIS IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR RESTARTING THE ENGINE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1993 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Indian Springs, Nevada · Indian Springs Afaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5005C · no longer on the register · serial D-2267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECH B35 WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER & BEGAN TO 'SPUTTER AS THE PILOT CHANGED FUEL TANKS. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PILOT HAD NOT PROPERLY OPERATED THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE. FUEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED FROM THE LEFT TANK FIRST TO ALLOW EXCESS FUEL THAT BYPASSED THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO THAT TANK. HOWEVER, WHEN CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE LEFT TANK WAS FULL & FUEL 'GUSHED OUT.' THE RIGHT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE & HAND FUEL PUMP WERE COMBINED ON THIS AIRPLANE; ALSO, THERE WAS A RED LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INFORM THE PILOT, WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS DISENGAGED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A RED LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED DURING THE OCCURRENCE. HE HAD LOGGED ABOUT 7 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL. NO RECORD WAS FOUND THAT HE HAD RECEIVED TRAINING IN THE AIRPLANE OR ITS FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 442 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 346 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1992; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: BIH Bishop CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:40 pm from DRA, 16 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.