- Date
- July 16, 1995, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Pottsville, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N456FBeech E35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950716048819A
- Case key
- 39003
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
improper installation of a fuel line fitting by the pilot/owner which resulted in fuel blockage and subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
After departure, at approximately 100-200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The airplane descended and struck trees approximately 1000 yards from the departure end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was fuel in the fuel tanks. No oil leaks or obvious discrepancies were observed. An examination of the engine revealed a blockage in the fuel line from the firewall to the inlet side of the engine-driven fuel pump. The blockage appeared to be rubber shavings from the inside of the fuel hose, caused by improper installation of the fittings on the end of the hose. The pilot/owner had installed the fittings.
Factual narrative
On July 16, 1995, about 1940 eastern daylight time, a Beech E- 35, N456F, collided with trees during a forced landing at Joe Zerbey Airport, Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured, and the one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
After departing runway 29, and at an altitude of approximately 100-200 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane descended, and struck trees approximately 1000 yards from the departure end of runway 29.
The FAA examined the wreckage at the accident site, and observed fuel in the fuel tanks. The left side of the engine cowling was damaged and would not open. The right side cowling was opened, and the engine was examined. No oil leaks or obvious discrepancies were observed. There was no damage observed to the propeller blades.
Examination of the engine by the FAA revealed, "a blockage in the fuel line" from the firewall to the inlet side of the engine- driven fuel pump. According to the FAA Inspector's statement, "the blockage appeared to be rubber shavings from the inside of the fuel hose, caused by improper installation of the fittings on the end of the hose." The FAA stated that the pilot/owner installed the fittings.
The Reading (RDG) 1950 weather was; 3,000 scattered, 15,000 broken, visibility 10 miles, temperature 84 degrees F, dew point 74 degrees F, wind 190 degrees, 8 knots, altimeter 29.08 inches Hg.
Several attempts were made to have the pilot submit the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, without any success. A U.S. Mail, Domestic Return Receipt, was returned with the pilot's signature, showing that he received a second form, on November 27, 1995.
According to the FAA, at the time of the accident, the pilot had 3,000 total flight hours, and 75 flight hours in this make and model airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N456F
- Reported as
- Beech E35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-3860
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gerald M. Bohler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- ZER
- Airport
- ZER · Joe Zerbey, runway 29, 4,594 × 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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 75 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDG, 40 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.