Beech U35B accident near Columbia, Ohio, January 4, 1991
On January 4, 1991 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Beech U35B, registered N2049K, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISMANAGED HIS FUEL AND RAN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS DRY, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE, DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1991 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech U35B
- Registration
- N2049K · registry record · serial D-10197
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DESCENT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT HIT TREES SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDING SITE. THE PASSENGER TOLD POLICE THAT THEY HAD NOT MADE ANY STOPS TO REFUEL. THE PASSENGER DID NOT KNOW IF THE PILOT HAD ONLY USED ONE TANK EN ROUTE BUT SAID THE PILOT TRANSFERRED FUEL TWICE FROM THE 'OUTSIDE' TANKS. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED THE PILOT TRIED TO SWITCH TANKS AND COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED PRIOR TO HITTING THE TREES.
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: 1,250 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-CBCBB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MIV Millville NJ at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 22G Lorain OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CLE, 20 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.