Beechcraft BE-76 N6638C

Summary

On 15 March 1999 at about 17:37 local time, a Beechcraft BE-76 registered N6638C was involved in an accident near Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 March 1999 at 17:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Allegheny County (AGC)

Coordinates

40.3505, -79.8906

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-76

Registration

N6638C

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hampton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD99FA034

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to accurately calculate fuel required for the flight, and his decision not to divert for fuel prior to his intended destination. A factor in the accident was the pilot's over confidence in his ability to operate the airplane with minimal fuel onboard.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After the pilot flew 4 hours and 37 minutes he reported the airport insight, and was cleared to land. The airplane then crashed 1 1/2 miles from the runway. No pre impact failures or malfunctions were identified. No fuel was found in the right engine fuel lines, and a few drops from the left. The airplane departed with 100 gallons of useable fuel, and flew at 9,000 feet msl with the cabin heater on. The airplane's gross weight at take off was approximately 4,337 pounds. The maximum gross weight at takeoff was published as 3,900 pounds. Fuel endurance at 9,000 feet pressure altitude was published as approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes with 2,500 engine rpm. Fuel consumption for the heater was listed as 2/3 gallons per hour. On a prior flight, the pilot landed the accident airplane with 2 gallons of usable fuel onboard.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.