Beechcraft 55B N1072W

Summary

On 18 February 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Beechcraft 55B registered N1072W was involved in an accident near Buffalo, New York, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 February 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Greater Buffalo Intl (BUF)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft 55B

Registration

N1072W

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Rochester

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD98LA028

Nobody was injured.

Improper use of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was cleared for takeoff on runway 14, and he applied full power for takeoff. At rotation, approximately 104 knots, the right engine lost power. He lowered the nose, applied full left rudder, but the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. The airplane collided with two taxiway signs, the right main gear sheared off, and the airplane came to rest opposite the direction of travel. He said he departed with the fuel selectors on the main tank position, and that he turned off all the switches before exiting the airplane. An FAA Inspector reported that he found the fuel selectors positioned to the auxiliary tanks. The right auxiliary fuel tank was drained and contained 3.5 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, '...Takeoff and land on main fuel tanks only...Do not take off if Fuel Quantity Gages indicate in Yellow Arc or with less than 13 gallons in each main tank...' The pilot reported that he had approximately 56 gallons on board, 1/4 in the auxiliary fuel tanks and 3/4 in the main fuel tanks. The engine was test run after the accident and it operated satisfactory.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.