# Accident 20250423005229A: Beech 95-C55, Letart, WV, April 23, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 2025, 16:15 local time
- Place: Letart, WV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9600° N, 82.0700° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9600&lon=-82.0700&mi=10
- Aircraft: N591R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N591R-2025-07-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 95-C55 (registry code 1152708, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-C55
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 753 total, 92 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250423005229A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED KGAS WITHOUT VISUALLY CHECKING THE FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE TANKS.  HE RELIED SOLELY ON THE FUEL GUAGES, WHICH IN A VIDEO HE PROVIDED OF HIS STARTUP, INDICATED THAT THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS LESS THAN 1/4 FULL.  CONTRARY TO THE POH.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL IN THE MAIN TANKS OR THE FUEL SYSTEM.  THE PILOT NOT VISUALLY CONFIRMING HIS FUEL LEVELS WAS THE ROOT CAUSE.  SECONDARY CAUSE WAS NOT USING THE PROPER PROCEDURE WHEN THE FIRST ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, THUS NOT MAKING USE OF THE AMPLE FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE AUXILLIARY TANKS.

## 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 ERA25LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA186), Apr 23, 2025: Beech 95-C55 (N591R), Lakin, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and inadequate inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing.

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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