# Accident 19980726017759A: Beech A24R, Beckely, WV, July 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 1998, 13:30 local time
- Place: Beckely, WV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7795° N, 81.1808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7795&lon=-81.1808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9711L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9711L-2000-06-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A24R (registry code 1151252, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a24r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A24R
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,600 total, 30 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980726017759A

## Narrative

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

ACFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DURING FORCED LANDING, THE PLANE HIT TREES RIPPING OFF THE LEFT WING, ACFT TOTALLY SUBMERGED IN POND, (.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SURGE AND SPUTTER. THE PILOT TURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND INITIATED A CLIMB. HE SAID HE CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK POSITION TO THE LEFT, BUT `...NOTHING HAPPENED.' HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK, AND SELECTED A GOLF COURSE FOR A FORCED LANDING SITE WHERE THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND CAME TO REST IN A POND. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY, NOT CONTAMINATED BY WATER, AND THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 27 GALLONS OF FUEL AND AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF WATER. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD 30 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, OR FLOW DIVIDER MANIFOLD. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE. EXAMINATION OF RECORDS REVEALED THE AIRPLANE'S MOST RECENT       FUEL SERVICE WAS FOR 23 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THAT THE AIRPLANE ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME AFTER THE SERVICE.

## 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 IAD98LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA084), Jul 26, 1998: Beech BE24 (N9711L), Beckley, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply in that the fuel selector was selected to the improper fuel tank, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power.

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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