Beech 36 accident near Kelso, Washington, August 19, 2018
On August 19, 2018 at about 4:30 am local time, a 1968 Beech 36, registered N9031S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Kelso, Washington. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and the subsequent forced landing to a field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2018 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Kelso, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 Undesignat, built 1968 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N9031S · no longer on the register · serial E-117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while en route to the destination airport during the personal flight, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, while the left fuel tank was full. The pilot stated that he did not remember switching fuel tanks during the flight and that, given that the right fuel tank was empty, he likely ran out of fuel.
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
- Fuel related during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 559 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 478 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,391.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2018; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520 (piston); 471 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 3:45 am
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from KLS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 2, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Onsite Inspection Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Interview with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9031S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.