NTSB Factual Report

On August 25, 2003, about 1745 central daylight time, a Beech M35, N711DU, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Avon, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time or the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at the Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS), near St Louis, Missouri, about 1704 and was destined for the Galesburg Municipal Airport, Galesburg, Illinois, at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported:

Departed SUS [at] 17:04 with just over 3/4 of a tank.

Halfway [through] the flight I turned the fuel selector

from the right tank to the left tank. The airplane

started to loose power, so I put it back onto the

right tank. The plane flew fine for more than 5

minutes and then started to loose power again, as

well as altitude. I turned on the fuel boost switch

on and then off and this helped get about a hundred

feet back. The airplane continued to loose altitude.

The fuel gauge was indicating around 3/4 of a tank

when I switched it. The terrain [was] a flat corn field.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane. The fuel selector was observed on the right tank. The right fuel tank was examined and no fuel was observed. Fuel was observed in the remaining fuel tanks on the airplane. The fuel line to the fuel injection system was removed. The electric fuel pump was operated and no liquid exited the line. The fuel tank selector was moved to another fuel tank position, the electric fuel pump operated, and a liquid consistent with avgas exited the line to the fuel injection system.

The aircraft recovery was delayed to the end of the harvest season. The aircraft's nose was raised. The aircraft's engine was started and it ran from the fuel in another tank.

The emergency procedures contained in the M35 airplane flight manual stated:

ENGINE FAILURE

The most probable cause of engine failure would be loss

of fuel flow or improper functioning of the ignition

system.

DISCREPANCY CHECKS ...

2. Loss of Power

a. Fuel Pressure Gage - Check (fuel pressure

abnormally low)

(1) Mixture - FULL RICH

(2) Auxiliary Fuel Pump - ON

(3) Auxiliary Fuel Pump - Off if performance does

not improve in a few moments

b. Fuel Quantity Indicator - CHECK (fuel tank being

used is empty)

(1) Select other tank (check to feel detent)

The system description for the M35 stated:

FUEL REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT

It is the pilot's responsibility to ascertain that the

fuel quantity indicators are functioning and

maintaining a reasonable degree of accuracy, and be

certain of ample fuel for the flight. Takeoff is

prohibited if the fuel quantity indicators do not

indicate above the yellow arc. An inaccurate indicator

could give an erroneous indication of fuel quantity. A

minimum of 13 gallons of fuel is required in each main

tank before takeoff.

The caps should be removed and fuel quantity checked to

give the pilot an indication of fuel on board. The

airplane must be approximately level for visual

inspection of the tank. If the pilot is unsure that at

least 13 gallons are in each tank, add necessary fuel so

that the amount of fuel will be not less than 13 gallons

per tank at takeoff. Plan for an ample margin of fuel

for any flight.

The pilot reported two hours of total flight time in the M35 airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel managemant leading to fuel starvation during cruise flight and the unsuitable terrain she encountered during the forced landing. A factor was her lack of total time in the airplane make and model.