Beech 35 accident near Santa Ynez, California, December 28, 2020
On December 28, 2020 at about 2:12 am local time, a 1958 Beech 35, registered N5474D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Santa Ynez, California (Santa Ynez airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2020 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ynez, California · Santa Ynez · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35, built 1958 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N5474D · no longer on the register · serial D-5064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot entered the vicinity to the destination airport, he switched the fuel selector from the right main tank (which was indicating close to empty) to the left main tank (indicating slightly less than half full). As he manipulated the selector handle, the engine experienced a total loss of power. Concerned that the fuel selector was malfunctioning, the pilot placed the selector back on the right tank and attempted to troubleshoot the failure. Despite his efforts, the pilot was unable to retore the engine power and made on off-airport landing into a fence. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane had been modified with a fuel-injected engine. The fuel system was designed for excess fuel at the engine-driven fuel pump to be routed back to the left main wing tank. At normal operating power, about 8-10 gph would be returned to the left tank (as opposed to the carbureted equipped airplane, which would return about 3 gph). The pilot used all the fuel from the right-wing tank and the excess fuel was being ported to the left main tank. The pilot starved the engine for fuel while on the right tank selection and that likely resulted in air entering the fuel system. When the pilot switched to the left main tank, he was either too late or did not allow enough time for the air to purge with the electric fuel pump activated. As a result of this fuel mismanagement, the engine was unable to receive adequate fuel to restart.
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 starvation during approach defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,866 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,254 as pilot in command; 4 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LPC Lake Havasu City AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KIZA
Weather report (METAR): KIZA 280215Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM CLR 10/05 A2987 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Supplemental Material | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt of Pilot's Operating Handbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Data Monitor - Specialist's Factual REPORT-WPR21LA075 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.
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.