# NTSB LAX85LA145: Beech B 90, N444SR, Los Alamitos, CA, February 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1985, 19:09 local (Feb 18, 1985, 03:09 UTC)
- Place: Los Alamitos, CA
- Coordinates: 33.790046, -118.060905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7900&lon=-118.0609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24654
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24654/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA145

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole(marked) (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,static (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT SIMULTANEOUSLY LOST PWR IN BOTH ENGINES AFTER THE LEFT FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE FUEL SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO X-FEED AND THEN THE RIGHT FUEL PUMP FAILED. BOTH ENGINES QUIT SIMULTANEOUSLY AFTER SURGING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATEAN UNLIGHTED RWY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A CITY STREET.DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE THE ACFT STRUCK SOME TREES, A PWR POLE AND PWR LINES. A SMALL AMT OF FUEL SPILLED AND NONE REMAINED ABOARD THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF KNOWING THAT THE WING TANKS WERE EMPTY AND FAILED TO VISUALLY INSPECT OR DIP THE NACELLE TANKS. TESTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE LEFT NACELLE FUEL GAUGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444SR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444SR-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N LJ-416, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B 90
- Registry model: [Beech B90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b90) (registry code 1152912) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ416
- Airframe hours: 6800
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kirk E. Molhook
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 30, 1984, 61 hours before
- Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA
- Destination: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: SLI, Los Alamitos

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,970 total, 650 in this make and model, 2,970 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 11 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 19850217003329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850217003329A), Feb 17, 1985: Beech B90, Los Alamitos, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Landed on city street striking powerlines. Erroneous indication in fuel gauge.

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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