Beechcraft B23 N4023T

Summary

On 28 June 2017 at about 23:10 local time, a Beechcraft B23 registered N4023T was involved in an accident near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 June 2017 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Odell Williamson Muni (60J)

Coordinates

33.9075, -78.4467

Aircraft

Beechcraft B23

Registration

N4023T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ocean Isle Beach → Burgaw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17LA215

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector between the left and right fuel tank positions, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing into trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, before the accident flight, he had conducted a cross-country, personal flight uneventfully with the fuel selector positioned to the left fuel tank. After landing, the pilot added 15 gallons of fuel to the left tank and about 5 gallons of fuel to the right tank. The passenger reported that, before the return flight, the pilot told him that he was going to use the right fuel tank for the return flight. Engine start, taxi, engine run-up, and takeoff were normal. The pilot reported that, when the airplane reached about 500 ft mean sea level, he noticed that the airplane was not climbing as expected and that the engine rpm had reduced to less than 2,000. He added that, as he started a "slow bank" left turn back toward the airport, the airplane would no longer climb. He considered switching fuel tanks but chose not to because the engine was developing some power and he was concerned switching tanks might cause a total loss of power. Once the pilot realized that the airplane would not reach the runway, he conducted a forced landing into a wooded area. During the landing, the left wing struck a tree, and the airplane then came to rest inverted. Both wings sustained substantial damage.   Examination of the airframe and engine revealed that the fuel selector was positioned halfway between the left and right tank positions; no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the midrange position of the fuel selector led to the engine being starved of fuel, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.