# NTSB NYC87FA126: Beech 58P, N721WW, Pleasantville, NY, April 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1987, 13:16 local (17:16 UTC)
- Place: Pleasantville, NY
- Coordinates: 41.130161, -73.780784 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1302&lon=-73.7808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30495
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30495/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA126

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, missed approach (ifr)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - residence

## Analysis

THE PLT REPT HIS AUTO-PILOT WAS MALFUNCTIONING ON THE APCH AND HE WAS HAVING AILERON PROBLEMS. HE REPT A LOSS OF PWR, GOT THE ENG STARTED, AND THEN REPT A DOUBLE PWR LOSS. PRIOR TO DISAPPEARING FROM RADAR HE REPT THAT HE WAS STARTING ONE ENGINE. THE ACFT IMPACTED A HOUSE. THE 5 OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE ESCAPED, ONE WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT AND HOUSE WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 2.2 HRS AFTER DEPARTING WITH 166 GALS OF USEABLE FUEL ON BOARD. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS FOUND FROM THE RT WING WHICH HAD BROKEN OPEN ON IMPACT WITH A TREE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE REPT HEARING AND FEELING THE CRASH AND OBSERVING A LIQUID RAINING DOWN FROM A COLLAPSED CEILING IN AN ADJACENT ROOM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT FUEL SELECTORS WERE IN THE CROSSFEED POSITIONS. THE NORMAL POSITION FOR OPERATION IS THE ON POSITION. CROSSFEEDING OF FUEL IS RESTRICTED TO EMERGENCY USE IN LEVEL FLT ONLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N721WW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-475
- Airframe hours: 398
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Rosenthal
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1987, 44 hours before
- Departed: SRY, SYRACUSE, NY
- Destination: HPN, WHITE PLAINS, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HPN, White Plains, runway 16, 6,548 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 850 total, 60 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HPN, 6 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 19870417010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870417010079A), Apr 17, 1987: Beech 58P, White Plains, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost both engines on ILS approach. Crashed into a home and burned. Fuel slectors on crossfeed. Main tanks empty.

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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