Cessna 320 N4726X
6 October 1991 · Gadsden, Alabama, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 6 October 1991 at about 21:16 local time, a Cessna 320 registered N4726X, operated by Barker, E. Gerry, was involved in an accident near Gadsden, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. 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 21:16
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gadsden, Alabama, United States
- Nearest airport
- Gadsden Municipal (GAD)
- Coordinates
- 34.0110, -86.0101
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320
- Registration
- N4726X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Barker, E. Gerry
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Panama City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL92LA003
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO INCORRECT FUEL LINE INSTALLATIONS, AN INOPERATIVE FUEL BOOST PUMP, AND INCORRECT PILOT PROCEDURE. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL OPERATION WITH A KNOWN FUEL SYSTEM DEFICIENCY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM, SINCE FUEL FROM THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WOULD FEED QUICKER THAN FROM THE LEFT MAIN TANK. RATHER THAN HAVE THE A/C REPAIRED IN FLORIDA, HE ELECTED TO FLY THE A/C TO HIS HOME IN INDIANA TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE THERE. WHILE ON APPROACH TO A REFUELING STOP, HE REPORTED THAT BOTH ENGINES QUIT SIMULTANEOUSLY. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LT TANK BOOST PUMP WAS INOP, AND THE FUEL SYSTEM CROSSFEED LINES WERE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED (NORMAL X-FEED WAS DISABLED). THUS, FUEL FROM THE RT, MAIN TANK WAS PRESSURE FED TO THE LT, MAIN TANK, AND THEN OVERBOARD, UNTIL THE RT TANK WAS EMPTIED, AND THE RT ENGINE QUIT. HOWEVER, FUEL WAS STILL AVAILABLE TO THE LT ENGINE. THEREFORE THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE PILOT SELECTED X-FEED ON THE LT FUEL SELECTOR AFTER THE RT ENGINE QUIT; THIS SUBSEQUENTLY SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE LT ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 320 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jun 1991 | Cessna 320F | Washington, Indiana, United States | DR. John C. Roberts | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1991 | Cessna 320E | Elkhart, Indiana, United States | Warner, Jack E. | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1991 | Cessna 320 | Middleton, Wisconsin, United States | Gregory D. Held | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1991 | Cessna 320D | Gorman, California, United States | John P. Culhane | Fatal | 3 |
| 8 Jul 1991 | Cessna 320 | Reno, Nevada, United States | David E. Baskett | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1992 | Cessna 320D | Aztec, New Mexico, United States | Dabbs, Thurman C. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1991 | Globe GC-1D | Brewton, Alabama, United States | Jang, Kenneth | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1991 | Rockwell 114 | Bessemer, Alabama, United States | Frank, Randal W. | Fatal | 4 |
| 7 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-31-350 | Munford, Alabama, United States | MacOn Horizons, Inc | Fatal | 4 |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Ashland, Alabama, United States | Sunny Skies, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Taylorcraft BC12-D | Mobile, Alabama, United States | Bean, Edwin A. | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1991 | Cessna C-172N | Alabaster, Alabama, United States | Teleunion Corp. | Fatal | 2 |