Beech H35 accident near Parker, Arizona, May 22, 2014
On May 22, 2014 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1956 Beech H35, registered N4689D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Parker, Arizona (Avi Suquilla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improperly attached fuel line and cracked fuel diaphragm due to unknown personnel’s inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the loss of engine power during cruise flight and the subsequent forced landing onto rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2014 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Parker, Arizona · Avi Suquilla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 NO SERIES, built 1956 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N4689D · no longer on the register · serial D-4874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and pilot-rated owner were operating the airplane in cruise flight when the engine lost power. They manipulated the engine and fuel controls in an attempt to regain engine power, but the engine would not restart. They subsequently conducted a forced landing onto rough terrain. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear folded underneath the airplane, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The engine was test run, and it would not maintain power unless the electric boost pump was operating. During a postrun examination of the engine, the fuel return line from the engine-driven fuel pump was found loose at the pump connection, and fuel was noted dripping from the rigid fuel line near the pump connection. The line was removed, and the "B" nut ferrule was found cracked. The "B" nut and the fuel pump fitting threads were damaged. The fuel pump and fuel control assembly were found intact, and, during a test run, functioned properly. During testing of the fuel manifold valve, a leak was observed at the vent port, indicating that the diaphragm was compromised. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the improperly attached fuel return line on the fuel pump and the leak from the fuel manifold valve led to a loss of pressure in the engine fuel delivery system, which resulted in the loss of engine power. The investigation could not determine when or by whom the maintenance was performed.
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 (partial) during enroute (descent)
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Other/unknown
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,271 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,150 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2014; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,903 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 2,796 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 15AZ Quartzsite AZ at 6:15 pm
- Destination: P20 Parker AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KEED, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N4689D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR14LA199.