Cessna 425 N783MB

Summary

On 11 August 2021 at about 15:00 local time, a Cessna 425 registered N783MB was involved in an accident near Helena, Montana, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2021 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Helena, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Helena Rgnl (HLN)

Coordinates

46.7403, -111.9442

Aircraft

Cessna 425

Registration

N783MB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbault → Missoula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA313

3 people were seriously injured.

A flameout of both engines due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined due to the airplane’s damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that on the morning of the accident he filled both wing fuel tanks to full. After takeoff, he climbed to his planned cruise altitude of 24,000 ft mean sea level (msl). While en route to his destination, the pilot reported that the left engine experienced a flame-out. The pilot opted to divert from the originally planned destination and descended. When the airplane was about 7,900 ft msl, the pilot reported that the right engine experienced a loss of power and that he was not going to be able to make it to the airport. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with trees and the airplane came to rest with the right wing and empennage severed from the fuselage. There was fuel in the wing tanks at the time of the impact. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies. A partial amount of fuel was found in both of the filter bowls, but it is unknown if fuel was able to reach the engines. A complete examination of the fuel system could not be completed due to the damage incurred to the airplane at impact. Both engines flaming out within a short time of one another is likely indicative of a fuel supply or delivery issue; however, the nature of the problem could not be identified during postaccident examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.