Beechcraft BE-23-24 N7951L

Summary

On 21 October 2000 at about 02:38 local time, a Beechcraft BE-23-24 registered N7951L was involved in an accident near Kingston, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, 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

21 October 2000 at 02:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingston, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.2396, -82.8602

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-23-24

Registration

N7951L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleveland → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC01FA021

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to check both fuel tanks visually during the preflight inspection. A factor in the accident was the dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane departed, and flew 54 minutes on a cross country flight before landing. Without refueling, the airplane departed for the return trip. 1 hour and 2 minutes into the flight home, the pilot reported a rough running engine and a loss of power. The airplane impacted a four-lane-interstate highway. On a standard day, the airplane would use 9.1 gph of fuel at 63 percent power and 6,500 feet. At 75 percent power, the airplane would use 12.3 gph. Witnesses reported that the day before the accident, the aircraft had 7.5 gallons in the left tank and 15 gallons in the right tank. The airplane was then flown 1.3 hours. After the flight, the airplane was not serviced until just before the accident flight when 13.2 gallons of fuel was added. The pilot's operating handbook requires the pilot to visually check the fuel quantity for both tanks during the preflight inspection. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. In addition, exanimation of the engine revealed evidence consistent with fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.