Beech M35 Bonanza, N656V: Accident occurred October 01, 2020 near Green Sea Airport (S79), Horry County, South Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; West Columbia, South Carolina 

ARS Automation Design Inc

https://registry.faa.gov/N656V

Location: Green Sea, SC 

Accident Number: ERA21LA002

Date & Time: October 1, 2020, 20:04 Local

Registration: N656V

Aircraft: Beech BE-36 

Injuries: 2 Minor

Flight Conducted Under:

On October 1, 2020, at 2004 eastern daylight time, a Beechcraft M35 Bonanza, N656V, was involved in an accident in Green Sea, South Carolina. The private pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot provided a written statement and conducted a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, and his description of events was consistent throughout. The pilot said they departed Greensboro (GSO), North Carolina en route to Myrtle Beach (MYR), South Carolina. While in cruise flight at 5,500 ft as the airplane approached their intended destination, the pilot said he listened to the Airport Terminal Information Service (ATIS) recording, moved the fuel selector from the auxiliary tank position to the right tank position and then requested a descent from air traffic control (ATC), which was granted.

The pilot stated that when he disconnected the autopilot to initiate the descent, the engine “went back to idle, like someone had pulled the throttle back.” He said he moved the propeller, throttle and mixture levers full forward, checked switch positions, and tried all positions on the fuel selector, and power was not restored. He “bumped” the fuel boost pump to the on position then turned it off to prevent flooding of the engine. The pilot informed ATC of the engine power loss, who provided the pilot with “options” for the forced landing; the closest of which was Green Sea Airport (S79). The airplane collided with trees and terrain about 1 mile west of S79, which substantially damaged the airplane. 

The airplane was recovered to an aircraft recovery facility where it was retained for further examination. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech 

Registration: N656V

Model/Series: BE-36 M 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator:

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: NightDark

Observation Facility, Elevation: KMAO,92 ft msl

Observation Time: 19:55 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C /16°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling:

Visibility:

Altimeter Setting: 29.93 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: Greensboro, NC (GSO) 

Destination: Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 Minor 

Latitude, Longitude: 34.181191,-79.030651 (est)