# NTSB LAX84FA259: Beech A23-24, N5676S, Bowman, CA, April 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1984, 00:40 local (08:40 UTC)
- Place: Bowman, CA
- Coordinates: 39.240428, -120.069137 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2404&lon=-120.0691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23951
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23951/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA259

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
  - fuel system,selector/valve - other (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, passenger
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

ON A FLT FROM FAIR OAKS, CA, TO RENO, NV, A FLT OF ABOUT 1 HR 15 MINS, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. THE PLT ASKED THE PAX TO SELECT THE OTHER FUEL TANK. THE SELCTOR HANDLE WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE VALVE. BUT THE PAX LOCATED THE HANDLE AND TURNED THE VALVE. THIS ACTION DID NOT AID IN RESTARTING THE ENGINE. DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE, AN ELECTRIC CABLE, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. BEECH SERVICE INSTRUCTION NO 1095, WHICH PROVIDED FOR STOPS ON THE FUEL VALVE TO PRECLUDE INADVERTENT SELECTION OF THE OFF POSITION HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 6 HRS PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT REFUELING. NORMAL ENDURANCE IS 6-1/2 HRS. ABOUT 6 GALS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE PLT, A FORMER ARMY AVIATOR, HELD NO FAA PLT RATINGS. A TOXICOLOGY TEST OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.177%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5676S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5676S-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N MA84 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A23-24
- Registry model: [Beech A23-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23-24) (registry code 1151226) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MA-84
- Airframe hours: 2822
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A2B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Porter/Steven Lewis
- Registered owner: James D. Knapp & Deborah Knapp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1983, 24 hours before
- Departed: 011, FAIR OAKS, CA
- Destination: RNO, RENO, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAC, 72 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 19840417012949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840417012949A), Apr 17, 1984: Beech A23, Bowman, CA, Destroyed. Ran a fuel tank dry. Fuel selector handle had come off. Was replaced and found on off. Pilot blood alcohol positive

## Other investigations on N5676S (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK69D0061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0061), Jul 22, 1968: Beech A23-24 (N5676S), Linden, CA, substantial damage

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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