# NTSB ERA23LA119: Beech A23, N16TH, Miami, FL, January 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 28, 2023, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL · On a road - Coordinates: 25.761681, -80.191788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7617&lon=-80.1918&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106648/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106648 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1151208), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A23A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151208), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A23A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was on a local flight at an altitude of 1,000 ft when he noticed the engine starting to lose power. The pilot said he switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not regained. The pilot conducted an emergency landing on a road and the airplane collided with a bus and then a pole. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were intact, and that the left fuel only contained a residual amount of fuel, while about 10 gallons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank. An engine test run was then attempted at the accident site, and the engine ran normally using the right fuel tank but did not run consistently with the left fuel tank selected. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot mismanaged the airplane’s fuel supply and starved the engine of fuel, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2023, about 1720 eastern standard time, a Beech A23, N16TH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was on a local flight at an altitude of 1,000 ft, for about 1 hour 20 minutes, when he noticed the engine starting to lose power. He switched tanks to regain power, but stated, “unfortunately that did not help.” He determined that a nearby road would be the safest place to land and started his approach. During the landing flare the airplane impacted a bus and skidded off the road, subsequently colliding with a pole before coming to rest. The pilot reported that he departed with 25 gallons of fuel total. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing sustained substantial damage to the leading edge. Initial examination of the (intact) fuel tanks revealed that the right fuel gauge contained some fuel while the left fuel tank appeared empty. An engine test run was then attempted at the accident site. During the first start up, the right fuel tank was selected. The fuel boost pump was turned “ON”, and the engine was started and ran normally between 1,200 and 1,500 rpm. The engine was shut down and then restarted using the left fuel tank. The fuel boost pump was turned “ON” and, once started, the engine struggled while idling between 600 to 800 rpm and would then stop. The right fuel tank was then defueled and about 10 gallons of fuel was recovered. Only a residual amount of fuel was recovered from the left tank. No other anomalies were discovered within the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16TH), registered now, S/N M-994, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A23 (A) - Registry model: [Beech A23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23a) (registry code 1151208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-994 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3028 - Engines: Continental IO-340-A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mosquera Daniel - Registered owner: Mosquera Daniel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 29, 2023, 84 hours before - Departed: MTH, Marathon, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 142 total, 120 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: MIA, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KMIA 282353Z 07011KT 10SM FEW025 BKN048 24/18 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP238 T02390183 10261 20239 53009 ## 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 20230128001999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230128001999A), Jan 28, 2023: Beech A23A, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Part 91 operation Beech aircraft A-23A, [privacy data omitted], serial number M-994, lost engine power, with one pilot and three passengers on board. Emergency… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106648. 25.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15390907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA119_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's mor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15391084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20statement%20LA119-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 20 pages, 21.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15390701&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logbook%20records%20N16TH_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15390917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA119-Rel.pdf 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.