Beechcraft C33 N4897J
10 November 1989 · Richmond, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 10 November 1989 at about 14:45 local time, a Beechcraft C33 registered N4897J, operated by Julian C. Petts, JR., was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Richmond Int'l (RIC)
- Coordinates
- 37.5110, -77.2704
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft C33
- Registration
- N4897J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Julian C. Petts, JR.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Cartersville
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO90LA009
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
CRACKED FUEL FLOW INDICATOR FUEL LINE WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO COME IN CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 1,000 FEET, THE PLT BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT ATC TO RETURN TO LAND, THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HE STATED THAT HE SAW FLAME COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THAT THE SMOKE WORSENED. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE AT THE RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE PLT EVACUATED THE ACFT ON THE RWY AND THE INTERIOR TO THE ACFT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE AND HEAT BY TIME THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED A CRACKED FUEL LINE WHICH RAN TO THE FUEL FLOW INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS LINE WAS CRACKED IN THE AREA OF THE CABIN LIGHT RHEOSTAT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft C33 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1985 | Beechcraft C33-A | Hobart, Indiana, United States | Nick Wilson | No injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 1982 | Beechcraft C33 | Walterboro, South Carolina, United States | Todd M. Wilson | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1981 | Beechcraft C33 | S.lake Tahoe, California, United States | HI Flyers Aero | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Oct 1979 | Beechcraft C33 | Dubois, Wyoming, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Dec 1979 | Beechcraft C33 | Ocala, Florida, United States | Comerford FLT | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 1977 | Beechcraft C33 | Canton, South Dakota, United States | Airways Servic | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-28-180 | Ashland, Virginia, United States | A & S Flying Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Mar 1989 | Halstead SANDPIPER | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1989 | Rotorway EXEC | Palmyra, Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1989 | Beechcraft V35TC | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Ruffin K. Harris | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Mar 1989 | Beechcraft A60 | Manassas, Virginia, United States | RTS Service Inc. | Fatal | 5 |
| 24 Mar 1989 | Learjet 25 | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Flight International, Inc. | No injuries | - |