Beechcraft D 45 N341MR
3 June 2020 · Ione, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 June 2020 at about 23:00 local time, a Beechcraft D 45 registered N341MR was involved in an accident near Ione, California, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ione, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Eagle'S Nest (CA20)
- Coordinates
- 38.4200, -121.0100
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft D 45
- Registration
- N341MR
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1955
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Camarillo → Ione
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR20CA199
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and impact with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated that he planned to complete a cross-country flight and had estimated a total fuel consumption of 30 gallons. During his preflight inspection, the fuel gauges showed 13 gallons in the left fuel tank and 17 gallons in the right fuel tank. The pilot visually confirmed that each tank contained fuel and then added 10 gallons of fuel. As the pilot descended through 6,500 ft mean sea level about 10 nm south of the destination airport, the engine "sputtered" and then lost all power. According to the pilot, the fuel gauges showed no fuel in the left tank and 17 gallons of fuel in the right tank. After subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, he established a glide profile and made a forced landing in a field about 1 nm south of the airport. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Both fuel tanks were void of fuel and the fuel gauges indicated no fuel in the left tank and 5 gallons in the right tank. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. He further stated that his "best conclusion is that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation."
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft D-45 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov 2011 | Beechcraft D-45 | Williston, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Beechcraft D-45 (T-34B) | Linden, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 2002 | Beechcraft D-45 | Minden, Louisiana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Beechcraft D-45 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1999 | Beechcraft D-45 | Oswego, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1999 | Beechcraft D-45 | Lake Berryessa, California, United States | Travis AFB Aero Club | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2020 | Cessna 172 | Fresno, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Cessna 208 | Eureka, California, United States | Redding Aero Enterprises Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Arrow-Falcon Exporters UH-1H | Coalinga, California, United States | Guardian Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Oct 2020 | Evolution REVO | Hawthorne, California, United States | Joe K Audette | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Feb 2020 | Beechcraft 36 | Avalon, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 2020 | Boeing 747 412 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Kalitta Air | No injuries | - |