- Date
- March 16, 1989, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Knoxville, TN
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N5403DBeech H35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890316003949A
- Case key
- 7881
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's continued operation of the airplane with a known mechanical defect in the engine carburetor/fuel supply system as evidenced by the past history of engine stoppage during ground operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's performance of unauthorized maintenance on the aircraft and its system.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
It was reported that the pilot/owner and the pax had spent the day installing an air-oil separator kit on the airplane. After the installation by the two uncertificated mechanics, they departed the local island airport sometime after 1500 EDT. At about 1605, the airplane was observed to land on the river short of the airport surface. Both occupants exited the airplane and swam toward shore. The pilot made it to shore but his pax was having problems so he swam back out to help. Both occupants sank in the 48 degree water and their bodies were recovered later. After recovery, the engine was dried out and a test run performed. Some contamination was found in the pressure carburetor. The engine had a history of stopping on the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5403D
- Reported as
- Beech H35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-4873
- Airframe hours
- 3,602
- Engine
- Continental O-470-G(1), 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- W. T. Christian
- Registered owner
- Robert M Melia
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 2, 1988 · 66 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 815 total · 12 in this make and model · 735 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TYS, 9 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.