# Accident 20180607024409A: Beech F33A, Sabinal, TX, June 7, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 7, 2018, 10:25 local time
- Place: Sabinal, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.4544° N, 99.6942° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4544&lon=-99.6942&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3291X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3291X-2020-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech F33A (registry code 1151425, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550-B/UE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,215 total, 128 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180607024409A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 7, 2018, THE AIRMAN DEPARTED FROM HIS HOME BASE OF LIVE OAK COUNTY (8T6) ENROUTE TO SIERRA BLANCA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KSRR).

WHILE FLYING NEAR CONCAN, TEXAS, THE AIRMAN EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING EVENTS: A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE, AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, OIL DISCHARGE, AND A FIRE. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ORDER OF EVENTS IS UNCLEAR (SEE THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF BOX 43 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION).

THE AIRMAN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH DEL RIO APPROACH AND WAS VECTORED TO AN AIRSTRIP WHILE FLYING AT 8,500 FEET. ACCORDING TO THE AIRMAN'S WRITTEN STATEMENT, HE HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT'S PITCH AND GLIDE BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT IT WANTED TO PITCH UP ON ITS OWN.

FALCON RADAR DATA SHOWS THE AIRMAN ENTERING A MODIFIED TRAFFIC PATTERN AND A 4-MILE FINAL APPROACH AT 4,400 FEET FOR ANNANDALE RANCH AIRPORT (2XS7).  THE AIRMAN DID NOT MANAGE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, CRASHING INTO TREES APPROXIMATELY 0.66NM WEST OF THE AIRPORT ON FINAL.

ON IMPACT, THE AICRAFT'S LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR WERE SHEARED OFF FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WING, THE LEFT WING TIP TANK AND NOSEWHEEL. THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT WING TIP TANK, FUSELAGE, MAIN GEAR, AND ENGINE/ENGINE COMPARTMENT REMAINED INTACT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL RESTING POSITION. THE DAMAGE TO THE TIP TANKS AND MAIN TANKS CAUSED A LARGE FIRE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS ONBOARD. ACCORDING TO THE AIRMAN'S STATEMENT, HE WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL BEFORE DEPARTING 8T6. ACCORDING TO THE FALCON RADAR DATE, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLYING FOR A LITTLE UNDER AN HOUR FROM TAKEOFF TO IMPACT.

AFTER THE IMPACT, THE AIRMAN MANAGED TO EVACUATE THE WRECKAGE AND LEFT THE AREA WHERE HE WAS FOUND BY A TEXAS STATE DPS TROOPER. AN AIRCRAFT FROM LAUGHLIN AFB WAS DISPATCHED TO LOCATE, ORBIT, AND REPORT THE FINAL LOCATION OF THE WRECKAGE.

THE AIRMAN WAS AIRLIFTED TO BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO WITH 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO HIS FACE, HANDS, ARMS, AND LEGS. THE AIRMAN WAS NEVER INTERVIEWED OVER THE PHONE OR IN PERSON DUE TO DAMAGE TO HIS VOCAL CORDS, SO HIS DAUGHTER, ASSISTED WITH THE WRITTEN STATEMENT.

AMENDED ON JULY 30, 2018:

RECEIVED PILOT HOURS AND TRAINING INFORMATION. UPDATED 8020-23 TO REFLECT CHANGES.

OCTOBER 18, 2019:

AN ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFORMED AND THE DATA WAS TO BE SHARED. HOWEVER, THIS OFFICE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE NTSB REGARDING THE TEARDOWN. THE AMENDMENT IS NOW CLOSED.

## 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 CEN18LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA213), Jun 7, 2018: Beech F33A (N3291X), Uvalde, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The loose oil filter, which resulted in oil starvation and a total loss of engine power in flight.

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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