Beech M35 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, April 18, 1998
On April 18, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9703R, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas 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
fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper fuel management and his failure to select the fullest tank for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9703R · no longer on the register · serial D-6210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on approach to the destination airport from a cross-country flight, the tower instructed the pilot to turn left to a downwind for landing. After completing the left turn the engine quit about pattern altitude. The pilot reported that he switched tanks several times in an unsuccessful attempt to get a restart. The fuel selector was found in the auxiliary fuel tank position. Recovery personnel removed about 18 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tanks, 2 gallons from the auxiliary and 16 from the right main tank. The left fuel tanks were ruptured. The estimated flight time from departure to North Las Vegas is 1.5 hours, and according to the engine manufacturer, the estimated fuel consumption at 75 percent power would be 24.375 gallons for that time.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 530 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HHR Hawthorne CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: VGT NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:59 pm from VGT, 2 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.