# NTSB ATL85FA054: Beech D18S, N8517Z, Norfolk, VA, December 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1984, 07:51 local (12:51 UTC)
- Place: Norfolk, VA
- Location: 36.9066° N, 76.1870° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from NORFOLK INTL (ORF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9066&lon=-76.1870&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA054

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper training, company/operator management (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN ILS APPROACH FOLLOWING AN ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE ON AN AIR TAXI FREIGHT FLIGHT. THE PLT RELATED THAT AT ABOUT 550 FT ON THE APPROACH TO RWY 23 THE LEFT ENG FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED & THE LT ENG LOSS POWER. THE PLT OPENED THE CROSSFEED VALVE & SHORTLY THE RT FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER ON THE RT ENG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE IS ONE FUEL GAUGE FOR THE TANK SYSTEM & A SELECTOR SWITCH MUST BE ACTIVATED TO DETERMINE THE FUEL QUANTITY IN ANY DESIRED TANK. THE PLT'S ACTION IN SELECTING CROSSFEED & NOT CLOSING THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE ALLOWED FUEL TO BE DIVERTED FROM THE OPERATIVE RT ENG RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8517Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8517Z-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N A-352, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D18S
- Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A-352
- Airframe hours: 12245
- Engines: P&W R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Transtar Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Destination: ORF, NORFOLK, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORF, Norfolk Int'L, runway 23, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 1,520 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 19,000 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORF, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841213076089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841213076089A), Dec 13, 1984: Beech D18S, Norfold, VA, Destroyed. Left fuel valve left on after turning on crossfeed. Right engine drained line, it also quit. Left fuel system leak.

## Other investigations on N8517Z (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 FTW82FPA11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FPA11), Feb 26, 1982: Beech D18S (N8517Z), Dallas, TX, substantial damage

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.

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