Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Mid Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Weslaco, Texas 78596
Friday, July 3, 2009 10:53 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Both main tanks and the left tip tank were filled with fuel prior to departure. When attempting to fuel the right tip tank, the fuel nozzle broke loose and fell into the tip tank. The pilot was unable to retrieve the broken nozzle, and no fuel was added to the tip tank, therefore the aircraft took off with a fuel imbalance between the tanks. The pilot occupied the right seat and another occupant who poissessed a student pilot certificate occupied the left seat. The supplemental type certificate (STC) directive regarding tip tank balance had not been complied with. During flight, the fuel imbalance resulted in a left rolling tendency. The pilot attempted to land at the nearest airfield, and configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps, which was contrary to the STC. During the landing, the airplane bounced and began to drift to the left towards the edge of the runway surface. The pilot performed a go-around and elected to turn left to enter the downwind pattern. During the left turn, directional control of the airplane was lost, and the airplane descended and impacted terrain. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. Fracture and bending signatures on the throwover style control column and hub were consistent with the controls being positioned toward the left seat during the accident sequence. It is unknown whether the flight was instructional, and it could not be conclusively determined which occupant was at the controls at the time of the accident.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while operating with a fuel imbalance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/owner's decision to fly the airplane outside of the operating limitations.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/3/2009 |
| Event Day of the Week | Friday |
| Time of Event | 1053 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Weslaco |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 78596 |
| Event Date Year | 2009 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 261100N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0975829W |
| Event Location Airport | Mid Valley Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | T65 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 70 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1045 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KT65 |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 70 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 7 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 33 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 25 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 170 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 9 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 17 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.02 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KT65 031545Z AUTO 17009G17KT 7SM CLR 33/25 A |
| 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 | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 26858 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 16 2010 11:37AM |
| User who most recently changed record | lema |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N2043D |
| NTSB Number | CEN09FA405 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BEECH |
| Aircraft Model | C35 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | D-3396 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2550 |
| 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 | -- |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | -- |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | COPELAND RALPH R |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 2531 SE 40TH ST |
| Aircraft Owner City | OCALA |
| Aircraft Owner State | FL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 34480-7237 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | COPELAND RALPH R |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 2531 SE 40TH ST |
| Operator City | OCALA |
| Operator State | FL |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 34480-7237 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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 | EBG |
| Departure City | EDINBURG |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1035 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | Weslaco |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 6 2009 12:51PM |
| User who most recently changed record | aguj |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 13 |
| Runway Length | 4998 |
| Runway Width | 70 |
| Sight Seeing flight | -- |
| Air Medical Flight | -- |
| Medical Flight | -- |