Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA98LA004

MEDFORD, OR, USA

Aircraft #1

N5482U

Beech V-35

Analysis

Prior to the crash, the pilot had requested priority handling inbound to Medford with minimum fuel. The airplane was unable to reach the airport, and crashed one mile southeast of runway 34. An on-scene investigation the day after the accident found no indication of postcrash fire, no indication of fuel on board the airplane, and no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Fire department personnel advised the FAA inspectors that there had been no evidence or odor of fuel at the accident scene.

Factual Information

On October 17, 1997, approximately 1745 Pacific daylight time, N5482U, a Beech V-35, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the Medford, Oregon, airport. The pilot, the sole person on board, was seriously injured. The flight had initiated at John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California. There was no flight plan filed for the flight, and no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot had requested priority handling inbound to Medford with minimum fuel. The airplane was unable to reach the airport, and crashed one mile southeast of runway 34 at 1745. FAA inspectors conducted an on-scene investigation the day after the accident. They reported finding no indication of post-crash fire, no indication of fuel on board the airplane, and no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Fire department personnel advised the FAA inspectors that there had been no evidence or odor of fuel at the accident scene. The pilot did not return an NTSB 6120 1/2 report.

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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