- Date
- August 27, 1991, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place
- Urbana, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6304FCessna 337
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910827036819A
- Case key
- 37001
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives which resulted in the failure of the pilot to recognize the stoppage of the rear engine prior to take off. Additionally the lack of total engine power resulted in the inability of the pilot to maintain the proper climb speed, and resulted in a subsequent forced landing in water. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's failure to comply with the manufacturer's service letter pertaining to the operational procedures to prevent a rear engine power loss, and the pilot's total lack of flying experience in this type of airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot's preflight consisted of checking the fuel tanks with a stick, and finding about 2 inches of fuel in the right main fuel tank. The airplane had just come out of maintenance because of inoperative fuel gauges. The pilot was returning to his home airport, landed and intended to takeoff again. Because of winds he had to taxi to a different runway. Just after takeoff and at a low altitude the pilot realized the rear engine had failed. The airplane started to stall, however the pilot said there was not enough runway remaining to abort the take off. He elected to make a forced landing and came to rest in a pond. The fuel selector for the rear engine was found on the right main tank. A Cessna service letter and AD had been issued for this type airplane calling for an operational procedure; to lead with the rear engine while taxiing, and during take off, in order to more clearly recognize a rear engine failure. The pilot's statement did not indicate that he had complied with either the service letter or the AD.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6304F
- Reported as
- Cessna 337
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0304
- Engine
- Continental IO-360-C, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Martin J. Cook
- Registered owner
- Martin J. Cook
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- VFY · London, OH
- Airport
- I74 · Grimes Field, runway 23, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 4,000 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6304F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.