Beechcraft 95-C55 N66MB

Summary

On 7 December 1996 at about 09:52 local time, a Beechcraft 95-C55 registered N66MB was involved in an accident near Riverside, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 December 1996 at 09:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Riverside, California, United States

Nearest airport

Riverside March Afb (KRIV)

Coordinates

33.8901, -117.3192

Aircraft

Beechcraft 95-C55

Registration

N66MB

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Riverside

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX97FA066

1 person was seriously injured.

fuel starvation due to improper fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's preoccupation of discussing the legality of the approach with the tower controller, and fatigue.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot contacted SOCAL approach control for VFR advisories en route and was given 300 overcast and visibility less than 1/8 mile in fog. When the aircraft was 7 miles south-southeast of the approach fix, the pilot reported that he could see the airport and again contacted the tower for a weather check. The local controller reported that the tower visibility was less than 1/8 mile and the runway and approach lights were at full intensity. The pilot stated that he could not see the tower. He was given a clearance for a visual landing and an RVR of less than 1,000 feet. The last communication with the pilot was 1 mile out on final approach. The aircraft wreckage was found nearly 5 hours after an intensive ground search hampered by ground fog. The pilot reported that during the go-around/missed approach both engines quit within seconds of one another. He further reported that when they quit he changed tanks and hit the boost pumps. The main selectors were found on the main tanks. Postaccident examination revealed empty auxiliary tanks with fuel in the right main tank. The left tank was damaged and empty. The pilot began his day at 1000 hours the previous morning.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.