"I’m scared to death " Pilot panics after losing engine.Controller helps the aircraft land safely

A Beechcraft 35 Bonanza lost engine power shortly after departure, turning a routine flight into an emergency. The pilot reported the loss of power to air traffic control and subsequently declared a Mayday when the engine failed completely.

The aircraft was being guided toward El Monte Airport while descending rapidly. Air traffic control provided headings and distance information as the pilot tried to find the airport. The pilot repeatedly said he could not see the runway, describing the difficulty of locating the airport while the aircraft was descending.

The pilot's communications also reflected the pressure of the situation. At one point he said, Im scared to death! The transmission came while ATC was continuing to provide directions toward the airport.

Controllers did not simply issue one heading and leave the pilot to complete the emergency. They continued providing guidance, including headings and distance information, while discussing other landing possibilities if the runway could not be found.

The aircraft was operating in haze, which made visual identification of the airport more difficult. The pilot's inability to see the airport became a central problem as the aircraft descended toward the area.

As the emergency continued, ATC encouraged the pilot to use any safe landing area if the airport could not be located. The priority was to keep the aircraft under control and give the pilot usable options as altitude decreased.

The pilot eventually reported that he could see the runway. He turned toward it and prepared for an emergency landing. The recording description ends with the aircraft approaching the runway under ATC guidance.

The investigation record does not establish a mechanical root cause for the engine failure, does not provide a final investigation finding, and does not support assigning responsibility to the pilot or controller. Those details are therefore not added here.

What is established is the sequence heard in the emergency communications: loss of engine power after departure, a Mayday, a rapid descent toward El Monte, difficulty seeing the airport in haze, repeated ATC guidance and the pilot's eventual identification of the runway.

Accident facts

Chronology of the event

Sources