# NTSB BFO89FA062: Beech 77, N18257, Cluster Springs, VA, July 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1989, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Cluster Springs, VA
- Location: 36.6045° N, 78.9231° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cluster Springs, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6045&lon=-78.9231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11466
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11466/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA062

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNLATCHED FUEL FILLER CAP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MONITOR THE FUEL SUPPLY DURING THE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system,cap - not secured (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - siphoning (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE STU PILOT WAS EN ROUTE WHEN SHE RADIOED THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER PLT, THE STU PLT SOUNDED PANIC-STRIKEN DURING THE TRANSMISSION. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SMALL POND, SURROUNDED BY AN OPEN FIELD. DAMAGE TO THE ACFT, INDICATED THE ACFT STRUCK THE POND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. INSPECTION OF THE LEFT WING SURFACE BEHIND THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK, INDICATED THE FUEL CAP WAS UNFASTENED AND LAYING ON THE WING INFLIGHT. A FLIGHT TEST IN A SIMILAR ACFT WITH AN UNFASTENED LEFT FUEL CAP REVEALED THE CAP MOVED AFT AND WAS HELD BY ITS CHAIN. DURING THE TEST, FUEL SIPHONED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK. FUEL PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE ACFT WOULD HAVE USED UP TO 13 GAL DURING THE FLIGHT. IT HAD A 30 GAL FUEL CAPACITY, 15 GAL PER TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18257](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18257-1995-01-31), registration cancelled 1995-01-31, S/N WA298 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 77
- Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: WA-298
- Airframe hours: 3884
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Piedmont Aviation Services Inc
- Registered owner: Piedmont Aviation Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 22, 1989, 78 hours before
- Departed: ORF, NORFOLK, VA
- Destination: SOUTH BOSTON, VA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 103 total, 103 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU

## 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 19890723024549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890723024549A), Jul 23, 1989: Beech 77, Cluster Springs, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Reported loosing power en route. Paniced. Crashed into pond. Found feuel cap off. Siphoned fuel.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.