Hawker Beech V35B accident near Coalinga, California, April 28, 2012
On April 28, 2012 at about 4:58 pm local time, a Hawker Beech V35B, registered N2841W, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power 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
- April 28, 2012 · about 4:58 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hawker Beech V35B
- Registration
- N2841W · no longer on the register · serial D-9493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the engine lost power while the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The pilot positioned the fuel selector to the right tank and the engine momentarily regained power. However, the engine gradually lost power completely and did not regain power again, although the pilot switched back and forth between the right and left fuel tanks. The pilot conducted a forced landing on a road. The pilot inadvertently delayed extending the landing gear; as a result, the landing gear was only partially extended and subsequently collapsed when the airplane touched down on the paved road, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed minimal fuel in the left tank and about 20 gallons in the right tank. The engine was subsequently run successfully, and no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were observed. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation.
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 enroute (cruise)
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Landing gear not configured during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,847 hours in all; 581 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,726 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2012; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-550-B4F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 4:05 pm
- Destination: 308 Coalinga CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from NLC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.