# Accident 19991119042119A: Beech C23, Fincastle, VA, November 19, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 19, 1999, 13:30 local time
- Place: Fincastle, VA
- Airport: Fincastle Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4898° N, 79.8697° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4898&lon=-79.8697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5203M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5203M-2002-10-04) (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 O360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 441 total, 62 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991119042119A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURES NEAR A PRIVATE AIRPORT. ABOUT 1,000 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, THEY ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND.  THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MADE A FORCED LANDING TO THE AIRPORT.  HE STATED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE 'LEFT' POSITION WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED.  HE ADDED THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON, BUT IT DID NOT EFFECT THE LOW FUEL PRESSURE INDICATION.  HE STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF HE HAD TIME TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO 'RIGHT'.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR STOP WAS NOT IN A PROPER POSITION, AND ITS THREE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE LOOSE.  THE STOP PREVENTED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM ENTERING THE 'LEFT' DETENT.  DURING A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED LESS THAN 1/4 INCH FROM THE 'LEFT' DETENT.      (-23)NARRATIVE NYC00LA035

## 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 NYC00LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA037), Nov 19, 1999: Beech C23 (N5203M), Fincastle, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The restricted movement of the fuel selector and the pilot-in-command's failure to verify the fuel selector was in a proper position.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.