Primary finding
Probable cause
fuel exhaustion due to the failure of the fuel tank selector valve handle which prohibited the pilot from switching to a tank containing fuel.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight originated at waunakee, wisconsin, and had an intended destination of texarkana, arkansas. The pilot made an intermediate stop in quincy, illinois, and topped off both fuel tanks. En route from quincy to texarkana, the pilot attempted to switch from the right to the left fuel tanks, and the fuel tank selector handle broke off. The engine experienced a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot made a forced landing in a field near marshfield, missouri. The airplane struck a parked snow plow during landing roll.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 11, 1993, at 1430 central daylight time, a Beech BE-35, N650V, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parked snow plow during a forced landing near Marshfield, Missouri. The airplane had experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The personal flight originated at Quincy, Illinois, at 1240. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported the fuel selector handle had broken off and the valve could not be moved to another tank. The selector was positioned to the right tank which was empty. The left tank was full. -