Cessna 401 N3298Q
1 August 1991 · Monroe, North Carolina, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 1 August 1991 at about 18:35 local time, a Cessna 401 registered N3298Q, operated by Fisher, Hyman S, was involved in an accident near Monroe, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 18:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Monroe, North Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.0709, -80.5207
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401
- Registration
- N3298Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Fisher, Hyman S
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Rutherfordton → Salisbury
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91FA148
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE PILOT'S SECOND ATTEMPT TO FLY TO HIS DESTINATION. ACCORDING TO AIRPORT PERSONNEL, HE DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE AFTER HE RETURNED FROM THE FIRST ATTEMPT. HE HAD ONLOADED 43.6 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE FIRST FLIGHT. AFTER DEPARTING RUTHERFORDTON ON THE SECOND FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND 4 MILES NORTH OF MONROE. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING AS IT FLEW OVERHEAD; SECONDS LATER, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. A WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS EMPTY. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER. AIRPORT PERSONNEL ALSO REPORTED THE PILOT WAS NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE FOR CRUISE AT 75% POWER WAS ABOUT 16 GALLONS PER HOUR PER ENGINE. THE PILOT HAD OPERATED THE ENGINES APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS 10 MINUTES BEFORE THEY LOST POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 401 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1991 | Cessna 401 | Jackson, Tennessee, United States | Montague, Harvey L. | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1991 | Cessna 401 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Redwing Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Cessna 401B | Rice Lake, Wisconsin, United States | Freight Runners Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Dec 1990 | Cessna 401B | Marsh Harbor, Bahamas | Air Mobile Ministries | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1990 | Cessna 401 | Grand Island, Nebraska, United States | Suburban Air Freight Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 1992 | Cessna 401 | New Port Richey, Florida, United States | Joseph A. McDonald | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1991 | Aeronca 7AC | Wilson, North Carolina, United States | James, Stanley D. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 1991 | Piper J-3 | Statesville, North Carolina, United States | Rhyne, Jerry R. | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Dec 1991 | Cessna 172P | Ramseur, North Carolina, United States | Lewis Flying Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1991 | Beechcraft 35 | Arden, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Cessna 337C | Bryson City, North Carolina, United States | Vernon, Barron I & Christopher | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Greensboro, North Carolina, United States | Carolina Air Academy, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |