Beechcraft 77 N6630C
21 June 1997 · Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 21 June 1997 at about 01:05 local time, a Beechcraft 77 registered N6630C, operated by James C. Farnsworth, was involved in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 01:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.7100, -123.0295
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 77
- Registration
- N6630C
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James C. Farnsworth
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Chico → Eugene
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA97FA148
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a forced landing approach, resulting in a stall. A related factor was the pilot's failure to refuel.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While on a flight from Chico, California, to Eugene, Oregon, the airplane crashed about 29 miles south of its destination. Witnesses stated they saw the aircraft turning toward a mown hay field, with its engine cutting out, when it abruptly dropped and impacted the ground from about 100 feet above ground level. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the aircraft's right wing fuel tank was empty and its left wing tank contained only a trace quantity of fuel. A total of approximately one to two teaspoons of fuel was extracted from the remainder of the aircraft's fuel system. Both wing tanks were breached; however, there was no fuel odor or discoloration of vegetation at the accident site. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot overflew at least five suitable airports with fuel facilities on his route of flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft 77 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1997 | Beechcraft 77 | Pink Hill, North Carolina, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Beechcraft 77 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 1997 | Beechcraft 77 | Lakeport, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1996 | Beechcraft 77 | Grand Prairie, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1996 | Beechcraft 77 | South Elgin, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Beechcraft 77 | McAllen, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Dec 1997 | Boeing 737-522 | Eugene, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 1997 | Beechcraft V-35 | Medford, Oregon, United States | Robert R. Francis | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 1997 | Cessna 185A | Damascus, Oregon, United States | Roger C. Snyder | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Oct 1997 | Beckham RV-4 | Scio, Oregon, United States | Hatch, Everett, W. | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Nov 1997 | Aerostar PA-60-700P | Portland, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Nov 1997 | Bell 206B | Forest Grove, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |