- Date
- July 7, 1989, 12:12 local (16:12 UTC)
- Place
- Battle Creek, MI
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9253ABeech 58
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890707021229A
- Case key
- 14261
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 flight crew inadvertently shut down the left engine after the right engine lost power, and the copilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft while maneuvering the aircraft back toward the runway. Factors related to the accident were: improper positioning of the fuel selector (probably) by the copilot and improper monitoring by the other pilot, which resulted in fuel starvation to the right engine.
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
During the initial climb after takeoff, one of the crew members reported that the right engine lost power & that they would return for a landing. The aircraft was observed to circle to the left with the right prop feathered. During the turn to the airport, the aircraft descended & crashed in a swampy area that was surrounded by trees. A post impact fire erupted & destroyed the aircraft. Subsequent investigation verified that the right engine propeller had been feathered. The fuel selector for the right engine was found positioned between 'off' & 'on.' The magneto switch for the left engine was found in the 'off' position, while the magneto switch for the right engine was in the 'both' position. Remnants of the throw-over yoke showed that it was positioned to the copilot's side. The copilot's flight time in the Beech 58 was not verified. Both engs were removed & prepared for operational checks. After water contamination was cleaned from the engines, both were started & ran successfully.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9253A
- Reported as
- Beech 58
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TH-45
- Airframe hours
- 4,750
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-C, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Central Sales & Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 29, 1989 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- BTL
- Destination
- SWF · Newburgh, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BTL · W K Kellog, runway 31, 4,835 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 150 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BTL, 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.