# Accident 20190701008829A: Beech A23, Fort Smith, AR, July 1, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2019, 11:55 local time
- Place: Fort Smith, AR
- Airport: Fort Smith Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3344° N, 94.2656° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3344&lon=-94.2656&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3598R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3598R-2021-07-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A23 (registry code 1151204, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-346 series (registry code 17033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A23
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-346 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 367 total, 6 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190701008829A

## Narrative

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

N3598R DEPARTED FORT SMITH REGIONAL AIRPORT (KFSM) AT 10:30 AM. ON 1 JULY, 2019 WITH PILOT AND STUDENT ONBOARD. AFTER FLYING APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AT KFSM PRACTICING TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS, IT DEPARTED TO THE PRACTICE RANGE AND PERFORMED BASIC MANEUVERS FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 ADDITIONAL MINUTES. AFTER DEPARTING THE PRACTICE RANGE ENROUTE TO KFSM TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS, THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS (LEFT TO RIGHT) AFTER BEING PROMPTED BY THE GPS, AND HANDED CONTROL TO THE STUDENT. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL BACK, SWITCHED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL (LEFT) FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE PILOT NOTIFIED ATC OF THE SITUATION AND INFORMED THEM THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRFIELD, AND INTENDED TO LAND APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES NORTH EAST OF THE AIRFIELD ON ARKANSAS HIGHWAY 59 . SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE HIGHWAY SUSTAINING A COLLAPSED RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE LANDING GEAR CAUSING IT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT AND STUDENT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR AND ENGINE FIREWALL. ON-SCENE INSPECTION REVEALED FUEL WAS NOT VISIBLE IN THE RIGHT TANK, FUEL WAS VISIBLE IN THE LEFT TANK, AND  NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. POST RECOVERY EVALUATION REVEALED THE RIGHT TANK HAD LESS THAN 1 QUART OF FUEL, THE LEFT TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 9 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND THE ENGINE WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL WHEN CONNECTED TO AN EXTERNAL FUEL SUPPLY. RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE LAST REFUELING OCCURRED ON 26 JUN 2019 AT MORRILTON AIRPORT (KBDQ). THE AIRCRAFT FLEW FROM KBDQ TO BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON NATIONAL AIRPORT (LIT), AND LIT TO KFSM IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT FURTHER FUELING.

## 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 CEN19LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA194), Jul 1, 2019: Beech A23 (N3598R), Fort Smith, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the flight instructor's fuel mismanagement.

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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