Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deer Park, Texas 77536
Tuesady, August 6, 1996 21:46 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an en route descent at night to the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. Subsequently, during a forced landing, the airplane impacted powerlines and poles, then it crashed, and a fire erupted. Witnesses reported that engine 'noise was not heard.' The pilot reported that he had one tank showing rubber particles in the fuel each time he drained fuel, but the other fuel cell (replaced in January 1995) did not bleed rubber through the sump. The postimpact fire destroyed the fuel tanks and lines. The main fuel screen of the fuel contol unit was clear of debris, and fuel was found in the fuel control unit and the fuel pump. One propeller blade had marks consistent with the powerline cable diameter. Flight control continuity was confirmed by tracing the airplane control cables. Maintenance records did not reveal any open discrepancy. During a postaccident engine test run, the engine performed within the manufacturer's specifications.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, and obstructions in the emergency landing area (transmission lines and poles).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2146
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DEER PARK
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77536
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2152 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID HOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1265
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6054Q
NTSB Number FTW96LA335
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier V35B
Aircraft Serial Number D-10237
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3275
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM G. DORSETT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 210 CHESTNUT STREET
Aircraft Owner City ALVIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77511
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4R2
Departure City AUSTIN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EFD
Destination City HOUSTON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --