# Accident 19960922029209A: Beech C23, Viroqua, WI, September 22, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 1996, 12:15 local time
- Place: Viroqua, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5510° N, 90.8801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5510&lon=-90.8801&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66338, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66338-2013-02-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C23 (registry code 1151242, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 152 total, 49 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA346) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960922029209A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON DESCENDING SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT, CRASH LANDED IN A FIELD. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT.  SHE SWITCHED TANKS AND THE ENGINE RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND QUIT AGAIN.  A FORCED LANDING WAS CONDUCTED IN A ROUGH FIELD.  A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONE QUART OF FUEL DRAINED FROM THE ENTIRE AIRPLANE.  THE FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE, SIPHONING OR FUEL STAINS.  THE ENGINE RAN SUCCESSFULLY AFTER THE ADDITION OF FUEL.  THE PILOT THOUGHT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HOWEVER THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS.                                                (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WILLARD AIRPORT (CHAMPAIGN, IL), FIRST INTENDED FUEL STOP WAS LA CRAISE, WI (LSE). AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF RUEL 28NM (140 DEGREES) FROM THE LACROSE AIRPORT (LSE). INVESTIGATION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LH LAND GEAR, WING, FLAP AND HORIZONTAL STAB. 1 QUART OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN FUEL WAS ADDED, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN UP TO FULL STATIC POWER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA346), Sep 22, 1996: Beech B23 (N66338), Viroqua, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight which led to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the rough uneven terrain.

## Other reports on N66338 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19990411037919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990411037919I), Apr 11, 1999: Beech C23 (N66338), Rock Hill, SC, Minor damage. (-23) On April 12, 1999, at approximately 1630 eastern daylight time, a Beech sundowner, BE-23-C23, N66337 experienced a hard landing at Rock Hill Airport…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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