- Date
- March 11, 1994, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aurora, NE
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5258MBeech C23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940311005529A
- Case key
- 9488
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
an inadequate fuel supply for the flight and the pilot's failure to refuel while en route. A factor related to the accident was the soft terrain on which the airplane was landed.
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
The pilot reported that approximately 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost power. A forced landing was made in a soft, muddy field at which time the airplane was substantially damaged. Inspection of the airplane revealed no fuel on board. The pilot had the operator remove 15 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff for weight and balance purposes.
Factual narrative
On March 11, 1994, at 1700 central standard time (cst), a Beech C23, N5258M, operated by the Anoka Flying Service, Anoka, Minnesota, and flown by a private pilot collided with the terrain during a forced landing in Aurora, Nebraska, while on a personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The forced landing was a result of a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Anoka, Minnesota, on March 11, 1994, at 1315 cst.
The pilot reported that while en route to the Aurora Municipal Airport the engine "stumbles" and stopped. A forced landing was made in a soft, muddy field during which the airplane was substantially damaged.
Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors from the Lincoln, Nebraska, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the wreckage and reported that no fuel was found on board the airplane.
The operator of the airplane reported that the airplane was originally full of fuel, but the pilot had them remove 15 gallons for weight and balance purposes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5258M
- Reported as
- Beech C23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-2018
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Anoka Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Virgil L. Barnes
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ANE · Minneapolis, MN
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
- Private
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 85 total · 17 in this make and model · 48 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUH, 3 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.