Cessna 337 N6304F

Summary

On 27 August 1991 at about 18:10 local time, a Cessna 337 registered N6304F, operated by Martin J. Cook, was involved in an accident near Urbana, Ohio, 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.

Date

27 August 1991 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Urbana, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Grimes Field (I74)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 337

Registration

N6304F

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Martin J. Cook

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

London → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC91LA224

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOGNIZE THE STOPPAGE OF THE REAR ENGINE PRIOR TO TAKE OFF. ADDITIONALLY THE LACK OF TOTAL ENGINE POWER RESULTED IN THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB SPEED, AND RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN WATER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE LETTER PERTAINING TO THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES TO PREVENT A REAR ENGINE POWER LOSS, AND THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF FLYING EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT CONSISTED OF CHECKING THE FUEL TANKS WITH A STICK, AND FINDING ABOUT 2 INCHES OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK. THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST COME OUT OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE OF INOPERATIVE FUEL GAUGES. THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME AIRPORT, LANDED AND INTENDED TO TAKEOFF AGAIN. BECAUSE OF WINDS HE HAD TO TAXI TO A DIFFERENT RUNWAY. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF AND AT A LOW ALTITUDE THE PILOT REALIZED THE REAR ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO STALL, HOWEVER THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AND CAME TO REST IN A POND. THE FUEL SELECTOR FOR THE REAR ENGINE WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT MAIN TANK. A CESSNA SERVICE LETTER AND AD HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS TYPE AIRPLANE CALLING FOR AN OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE; TO LEAD WITH THE REAR ENGINE WHILE TAXIING, AND DURING TAKE OFF, IN ORDER TO MORE CLEARLY RECOGNIZE A REAR ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT'S STATEMENT DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE HAD COMPLIED WITH EITHER THE SERVICE LETTER OR THE AD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.