# NTSB NYC83FGM02: Beech A-23, N1411L, West Mifflin, PA, April 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1983, 13:32 local (18:32 UTC)
- Place: West Mifflin, PA
- Coordinates: 40.359405, -79.899513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3594&lon=-79.8995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FGM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FGM02

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,selector/valve - improper (cause)
  - fuel supply - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE FROM 400 FT AGL TO A SLAG DUMP ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE RIGHT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BY THE INITIAL IMPACT AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING RIGHT AT TOUCHDOWN. THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED AS DID THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. DURING PREFLIGHT THE PILOT NOTED THE LEFT TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE TANK SELECTOR INDICATED THAT RIGHT TANK WAS BEING USED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SELECTOR WAS INSTALLED 90 DEGREES OUT OF PHASE. WHEN IT INDICATED RIGHT TANK IT WAS ON LEFT TANK. THE SELECTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE POSITIONED TO OFF TO USE FUEL FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 3 TIMES SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ABOUT ONEHALF HOUR EACH TIME AND ALWAYS WITH SELECTOR ON THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. IF LEFT TANK POSITION HAD BEEN USED THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE QUIT AS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1411L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A-23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M804
- Airframe hours: 828
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-346A 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ralph E. Grimble
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1983, 2 hours before
- Departed: AGC, WEST MIFFLIN, PA
- Destination: LBE, LATROBE, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 567 total, 19 in this make and model, 335 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGC

## 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 19830422015119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830422015119A), Apr 22, 1983: Beech A23, West Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Crash landed in a slag dump. Fuel selector installed out of phase. Actually on empty tank.

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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