# Accident 19970720018919A: Beech B60, Springfield, MO, July 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 1997, 16:30 local time
- Place: Springfield, MO
- Airport: Springfield Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2103° N, 93.3502° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2103&lon=-93.3502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3359P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3359P-1999-01-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech B-60 (registry code 1153605, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-60) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B60
- Reported engine: LYC TIO541E1C4
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 10,734 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97FA220) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970720018919A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED PARTIAL ENGINE FAILURE AND COULDN'T MAKE AIRPORT, GOING TO TRY AND LAND, CRASHED. (.4) THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS AIRPORT AND FLEW TO SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL AIRPORT, A 50 TO 60 MINUTE FLIGHT. THE FUEL ON BOARD WAS ABOUT 25 TO 30 GALLONS IN THE LEFT WING TANKS, AND 75 TO 80 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT WING TANKS. EACH ENGINE BURNED ABOUT 25 TO 30 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FUELED PRIOR TO THE RETURN FLIGHT. ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE HAD REACHED 4,300 FEET MSL (3,033 FEET AGL) AND BEGAN A 402 FPM DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THE DESCENT AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT FOR ABOUT 7 NM BEFORE TURNING 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED TO 2,200 FEET MSL (933 FEET AGL) AND WAS 10 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE CONTROLLER THAT HE HAD A '...PARTIAL ENGINE FAILURE ON THE LEFT SIDE.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN INVERTED, VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE LANDING GEAR WERE DOWN AT IMPACT. NEITHER PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED. THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT ENGINE, FUSELAGE, AND EMPENNAGE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. THE LEFT WING WAS CONSUMED BY                                                     FIRE BETWEEN THE NACELLE AND THE WING ROOT. THE REMAINING LEFT WING, LEFT NACELLE, AND ENGINE WERE NOT DESTROYED BY FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINES AND AIRFRAME DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-EXISTING ANOMALIES THAT PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION. THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL DID NOT CONTAIN PROCEDURES WHICH EXPLAINED FUEL CROSSFEEDING PROCEDURES IN CASE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION TO A WING'S FUEL TANKS.

## 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 CHI97FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97FA220), Jul 20, 1997: Beech B-60 (N3359P), Springfield, MO, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's fuel mismanagement and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in fuel exhaustion followed by the loss of power in one engine and the loss of aircraft control.…

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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