# NTSB NYC92FA090: Beech A36, N36MR, Southbury, CT, May 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1992, 09:12 local (13:12 UTC)
- Place: Southbury, CT
- Location: 41.4549° N, 73.1579° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from WATERBURY-OXFORD (OXC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4549&lon=-73.1579&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37059
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92FA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37059/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FA090

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MONITOR HIS FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN AS THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE FUEL CAPS AND FUEL SIPHONING.

## 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
  - fuel system,cap - siphoning (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER APPROX 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.  WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING OVER A WOODED AREA, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN AND CRASHED IN A CREEK. FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND BEHIND THE FUEL CAP ON THE LEFT WING.  WHEN TESTED, BOTH FUEL CAPS LEAKED.  THE CAPS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HAVING BEEN ADJUSTED IN THE FIELD TO A LOOSER FIT.  NO FIELD ADJUSTMENTS OF THE CAP ARE AUTHORIZED.  THERE WERE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE COCKPIT FUEL GAUGES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36MR-1994-10-13), registration cancelled 1994-10-13, S/N E1419 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1419
- Airframe hours: 1870
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Malcom F. Dunn
- Registered owner: Malcom F. Dunn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1990, 190 hours before
- Departed: 49J, HILTON HEAD, SC
- Destination: 44N, MILLBROOK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OXC, Waterbury-Oxford

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,749 total, 142 in this make and model, 1,676 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OXC, 2 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 19920505013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920505013309A), May 5, 1992: Beech A36, Oxford, CT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost power en route. Stalled into river approaching oxc. No usable fuel. Fuel cap had full stains. No current annual

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.