Beech 35-B33 accident near Chico, California, November 11, 2009
On November 11, 2009 at about 1:35 am local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N9617Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Chico, California (Chico 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
A loss of engine power during final approach for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2009 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Chico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N9617Y · no longer on the register · serial CD-583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, she filled the fuel tanks prior to departure for the cross-country flight. She switched the fuel selector position every 30 minutes during the flight in an effort to alternate between tanks. She switched to the fullest (left) tank while on approach to the airport. The airplane was on a stable glide path with the gear and flaps down, mixture rich, and propeller at low pitch. On final approach, about 100 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power. Despite the pilot’s efforts, which included switching to the right tank and turning the fuel boost pump to the "on" position, the engine would not restart. The pilot banked to the right to avoid the runway approach lights and the wing tip subsequently struck the ground. The airplane tumbled in a cartwheel-type maneuver before coming to a stop in a nose-down attitude. First responders observed no fuel in the right wing fuel tank and drained about 12.5 gallons of fuel from the left wing fuel tank. During a postaccident examination, with the airplane in a level attitude, investigators drained 10 gallons of fuel from the right fuel tank and found fuel in the gascolator. Investigators discovered no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,277 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,099 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,774 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2009; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Portland OR at 10:30 pm
- Destination: CIC Chico CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13L, 6,724 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from KCIC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.