Beech F-35 accident near Collegeville, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1992
On December 22, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Beech F-35, registered N4266B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Collegeville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE BEFORE LANDING CHECK LIST IN THE PILOT OPERATORS HANDBOOK IN NOT SELECTING THE FULLEST FUEL TANK FOR LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Collegeville, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F-35 · all F-35s on the register
- Registration
- N4266B · registry record · serial D-4255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH 45 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. AFTER 1.3 HOURS OF FLYING, AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE AIRPORT DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE GEAR UP IN A FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FULL LEFT FUEL TANK AND NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE RIGHT TANK. A POST ACCIDENT TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,050 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,050 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N10 PA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.