# NTSB FTW85LA178: Beech C23, N9243S, San Antonio, TX, April 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1985, 17:58 local (23:58 UTC)
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.540205, -98.489204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5402&lon=-98.4892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21719
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21719/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DEPARTED STUTGART, AR, WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AT 1250 CST. FIVE HOURS AND EIGHT MINUTES LATER, THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING FOLLOWING FUEL EXHAUSTION NEAR HIS INTENDED DESTINATION, SAN ANTONIO, TX. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FAA INVESTIGATORS THE PLT ADMITTED 'I JUST RAN OUT OF FUEL.' NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND WITH THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9243S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-1731
- Airframe hours: 1775
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen A. Hone
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1985
- Departed: SGT, STUTGART  K, AR
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 520 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAT, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850410011939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850410011939A), Apr 10, 1985: Beech C23, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Air filed IFR 30 minutes before fuel exhaustion caused forced landing. Had been in the air 5 hours 8 minutes.

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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