# NTSB FTW85FA158: Beech C24R, N2011M, Galveston, TX, March 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1985, 21:19 local (Mar 22, 1985, 03:19 UTC)
- Place: Galveston, TX
- Location: 29.2648° N, 94.8438° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SCHOLES INTL AT GALVESTON (GLS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2648&lon=-94.8438&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA158

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, dual student (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - fence
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS THE ACFT WAS IN THE INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE FLT DEPARTED FROM HOBBY AIRPORT, HOUSTON, TX, AT 2018 CST AND COMPLETED TWO IFR PRACTICE APCHS PRIOR TO THE TOUCH AND GO. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL DRAINABLE FROM THE RIGHT TANK AND APRX 12 GALLONS REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK. THE ENGINE, FUEL INJECTOR ASS'Y AND FUEL FLOW DIVIDER WERE DISASSEMBLED AND/OR TESTED REVEALING NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. REVIEW OF THE OPERATOR'S RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGES HAD BEEN INOPERATIVE FOR APRX 3 MONTHS. THE ACFT WAS LAST FUELED ON O2-17-85 AND HAD FLOWN APRX 2/7 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT BEGAN. PRIOR TO RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE THE FUEL INJECTOR LINES WERE LOOSENED AND FOUND DRY. TOTAL USABLE FUEL CAPACITY WAS 57.2 GALLONS. EXACT FUEL QUANTITY AFTER FUELING ON 2-17-85 IS UNKNOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2011M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C24R
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC-601
- Airframe hours: 1868
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Alvin Aero Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 1985, 4 hours before
- Departed: HOU, HOUYSTON, TX
- Airport: GLS, Choles, runway 13, 6,001 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,780 total, 23 in this make and model, 2,039 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLS

## 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 19850321008529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850321008529A), Mar 21, 1985: Beech C24R, Galveston, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit during climb after touch and go. Struck a fence and ground. Selector on empty tank, gauges inoperative.

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.

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