NTSB Factual Report

On September 12, 2017, about 1300 central daylight time, a Beech N35 airplane, N9368Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near South Bend International Airport (SBN), South Bend, Indiana. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight departed Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), Olathe, Kansas, about 0930, and was en route to SBN.

According to the pilot, while on final approach for runway 9R, the engine "missed". The pilot attempted to increase engine power by advancing the engine throttle control forward. There was no response from the engine. During the forced landing the main landing gear clipped the elevated island between two oncoming lanes of traffic. The airplane bounced and struck a car before coming to rest in the grass adjacent to the road. The left wing was bent and buckled during the forced landing.

Prior to the recovery of the airplane from the accident site, the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident, recovered about a cup of fuel from the right fuel tank. There was visible fuel in the left fuel tank. A postaccident examination of the airplane, following its recovery, revealed blue-colored fuel streaking from the right-wing fuel filler aft to the trailing edge of the right-wing flap. The right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank had about 10 gallons of fuel. The fuel cap and seat were unremarkable. An examination of the engine and remaining systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The improperly seated fuel cap, which resulted in an in-flight fuel leak and subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.