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20141115020549A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Beech F33A · Clinton, CT · November 15, 2014

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
November 15, 2014 · 16:06 local
Place
Clinton, CT
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N4548S
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA15LA053
Reported as
Beech F33A
Reported engine
Continental IO-550
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,549 total827 in this make and model13 in the last 90 days
N4548SRegistration cancelled Jan 29, 2019 · Beech F33AS/N CE-601 · Built 1975Airframe modelBeech F33AEngine modelContinental IO-520 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.

Pilot notified N90 TRACON at 1606 EST that she had engine problems. She was 3 miles southwest of chester airport, CT at 4500 feet MSL. Controller gave her clearance to land at chester and told her to turn north heading 360 and look for the airport. Pilot did not respond to controller and did not turn north. Pilot stated she could not see the airport, and the sun was in her eyes. Controller then told her the airport was directly underneath her and to turn left to heading 180 and look to her left for the airport. She did turn to 180. Pilot responded she still didn't see the airport, she requested vectors several times and controller responded to look below for the airport. Several other pilots who knew her and were also flying in her area told her to switch fuel tanks several times. She never responded to them. She flew the 180 heading until she crashed into trees in Clinton, CT. Aircraft was destroyed in the crash. The subsequent investigation revealed approximately 20 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank and no evidence of fuel in the left wing tank. Fuel selector was in the left tank position. NTSB is intending to attempt to run the engine and determine if there was any mechanical failure or if it was fuel starved due to improper fuel management.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT NOTIFIED N90 TRACON AT 1606 EST THAT SHE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. SHE WAS 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHESTER AIRPORT, CT AT 4500 FEET MSL. CONTROLLER GAVE HER CLEARANCE TO LAND AT CHESTER AND TOLD HER TO TURN NORTH HEADING 360 AND LOOK FOR THE AIRPORT. PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO CONTROLLER AND DID NOT TURN NORTH. PILOT STATED SHE COULD NOT SEE THE AIRPORT, AND THE SUN WAS IN HER EYES. CONTROLLER THEN TOLD HER THE AIRPORT WAS DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH HER AND TO TURN LEFT TO HEADING 180 AND LOOK TO HER LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT. SHE DID TURN TO 180. PILOT RESPONDED SHE STILL DIDN'T SEE THE AIRPORT, SHE REQUESTED VECTORS SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTROLLER RESPONDED TO LOOK BELOW FOR THE AIRPORT. SEVERAL OTHER PILOTS WHO KNEW HER AND WERE ALSO FLYING IN HER AREA TOLD HER TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS SEVERAL TIMES. SHE NEVER RESPONDED TO THEM. SHE FLEW THE 180 HEADING UNTIL SHE CRASHED INTO TREES IN CLINTON, CT. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE CRASH. THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT WING TANK AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE LEFT WING TANK. FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. NTSB IS INTENDING TO ATTEMPT TO RUN THE ENGINE AND DETERMINE IF THERE WAS ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE OR IF IT WAS FUEL STARVED DUE TO IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT.

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 ERA15LA053Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportClinton, CTThe pilot's inadequate fuel planning and improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow proper procedures in response to the loss of engine power.Nov 15, 2014 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4548S · 1

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

Incident 19900606029769IClimb · Santa Monica, CAPilot given incorrect frequency for departure. Caused a misunderstanding on departure headings.Jun 6, 1990