Beech V35B accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, August 5, 1997
On August 5, 1997 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N9236Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Tullahoma airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper procedure by not placing the fuel selector on the tank with the most fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation, a forced landing, and impact with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1997 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Tullahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9236Q · no longer on the register · serial D-9288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach the airplane's engine lost power about 100 yards short of the runway and impacted with trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed that both fuel tanks were breached, and fuel was not observed in either tank. The fuel selector was found in the left tank position. The pilot he realized he had 'error[ed]' and had not switched to the full fuel tank. He switched tanks, but he said 'the engine did not fire.' The airplane was 'low and slow,' but the pilot thought he could still make the runway. The airplane struck the top of a tree and fell to the ground. The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, '...this accident could have been avoided by following 'GUMP' [gas-under carriage-mixture-prop] to the letter.'
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: 172 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1997; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKM Elkhart IN at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.