Rock Hill Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732
Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately four miles away from destination airport the pilot canceled the instrument flight plan and continued the flight under visual flight rules. Review of radar data revealed the flight continued 10 miles southwest of the destination airport, and was observed maneuvering before returning to the airport. Witnesses approximately a mile away from the airport reported that the engine was cutting in and out, and subsequently lost power. The airplane descended until it was below a nearby tree line. First responders to the crash site reported that the downed airplane was located in a subdivision one mile southwest of the Rock Hill Airport. The post accident examination of the fuel system revealed that there was no fuel found in the fuel lines from the main tanks to the fuel (mechanical) pump. Fuel selector was found in the left tip tank position. The electrical cross feed selector switch was in the off position. No fuel was found in the left tip tank, and the left tip tank was not breached. According to the certified fight instructor, he did not remember or recall any details of the actual flight nor of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply , which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Rock Hill
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29732
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 345801N
Event Location Longitude 0810500W
Event Location Airport Rock Hill
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UZA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 667
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KUZA
Elevation of weather observation facility 667
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18881
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charlotte FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9JQ
NTSB Number ATL05FA135
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-9273
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jul 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 162.5
Airframe Hours 2565.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John William Coulman
Aircraft Owner Street Address 110 Darby Lakes Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Plain City
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43064
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OSU
Departure City COLUMBUS
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code UZA
Destination City Rockhill
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 11 2005 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --