Sanderson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shelton, Washington 98584
Thursday, November 9, 2006 12:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While returning to the departure airport for landing, the pilot reported an engine problem. The airplane was subsequently observed by two pilot-rated witnesses in a steep spiral before impacting trees in a nose down attitude. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site, and a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine failed to disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or component failure. An examination of the engine and airframe fuel system components failed to find any fuel. There were no obvious indications of fuel spillage or staining of vegetation at the accident site, nor did emergency response personnel report the odor of fuel upon their arrival at the scene of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during the subsequent forced landing. A factor associated with the accident is the inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/9/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Shelton
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98584
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471334N
Event Location Longitude 1231023W
Event Location Airport Sanderson Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SHN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 274
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 273
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2100
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21383
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Nov 9 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2007 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2843V
NTSB Number SEA07FA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model D35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-248
Certified Max Gross Weight 2560
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 Sep 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4.55
Airframe Hours 4516.17
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Maurice N. Theriault
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Union
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98592
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SHN
Departure City Shelton
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2007 2:47AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 5005
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --