20041021027659A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech C24R · Asti, CA · October 21, 2004

Date: October 21, 2004 · 17:30 local
Place: Asti, CA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N18942
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05LA012
Reported as: Beech C24R
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 310 total170 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N18942Registration cancelled Mar 10, 2008 · Beech C24RS/N MC-549 · Built 1977 Airframe modelBeech C24R Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot departed healdsburg CA airport direct to little river CA airport (O48). Pilot and passenger witnessed that left hand fuel tank was selected. Engine failed .7NM nw of cloverdale airport. Pilot switched fuel selector to right hand tank and attempted engine restart. Engine failed to restart. Pilot attempted landing at cloverdale airport initiating a turn under no power. Pilot could not make airport and executed emergency landing in a vineyard. Inspection of the fuel tanks revealed left hand tank 1 gallon (approximate), fuel gauge indicated zero. Right hand fuel tank 11 gallons fuel (approximate), fuel gauge indicated 1/4 full.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED HEALDSBURG CA AIRPORT DIRECT TO LITTLE RIVER CA AIRPORT (O48). PILOT AND PASSENGER WITNESSED THAT LEFT HAND FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED. ENGINE FAILED .7NM NW OF CLOVERDALE AIRPORT. PILOT SWITCHED FUEL SELECTOR TO RIGHT HAND TANK AND ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. PILOT ATTEMPTED LANDING AT CLOVERDALE AIRPORT INITIATING A TURN UNDER NO POWER. PILOT COULD NOT MAKE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED EMERGENCY LANDING IN A VINEYARD. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED LEFT HAND TANK 1 GALLON (APPROXIMATE), FUEL GAUGE INDICATED ZERO. RIGHT HAND FUEL TANK 11 GALLONS FUEL (APPROXIMATE), FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 FULL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05LA012Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCloverdale, CAthe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from the pilot's inadequate fuel system management and his delay in selecting the fullest fuel tank.Oct 22, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N18942 · 3

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

Incident 20030517010629ILevel Off Touchdown · Paris, ID(-23) Aircraft was enroute from CA to IA, stopped at Bear lake co. airport (1U7) for fuel and lunch. At approximately 1200 MDT aircraft departed 1U7, after takeoff initiated gear retraction, nothing happened, gear indication lights remained 3 in-the-green.…May 17, 2003 · Minor damage Incident 19940725045439ILevel Off Touchdown · Oakland, CABounced and porpoised landing. Nose gear separated. Stopped nose down on runway.Jul 25, 1994 · Minor damage Accident 19921219050919AForced Landing · Oakland, CARan a tank dry on final. Unable restart. Landed on golf course. Check out and IFR dual flight.Dec 19, 1992 · Substantial damage