Beechcraft 55B N54339
17 July 1991 · Cupertino, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 July 1991 at about 23:52 local time, a Beechcraft 55B registered N54339, operated by U.s. Navy Moffett Field Navy, was involved in an accident near Cupertino, California, United States. 2 people were 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 23:52
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Cupertino, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.2993, -122.0906
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 55B
- Registration
- N54339
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- U.s. Navy Moffett Field Navy
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Avalon → Moffett Field
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA317
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT INACCURATELY CALCULATING FUEL CONSUMPTION AND FUEL REQUIREMENTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT OF A PRECISION APPROACH RADAR (PAR), THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND THEN NOTICED THE RIGHT ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE PILOT SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE AND ENTERED A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE TOP OF A BUS. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE DESCENT UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A LANE DIVIDER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND CAME TO A REST. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON SCENE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN ANY OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft 55 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Perry, Georgia, United States | Potter, Douglas A. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Burbank, California, United States | Pacific Air Charter | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Forest Lake, Minnesota, United States | NOL TEC Systems, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Leicester, Massachusetts, United States | Robert L. Powell | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Klodnicki, David T. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1992 | Beechcraft 55-95B55B | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | Eielson AFB Aero Club | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |