# NTSB NYC96LA008: Beech B24R, N2544W, Bethpage, NY, October 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 1995, 17:22 local (21:22 UTC) - Place: Bethpage, NY - Coordinates: 40.739295, -73.479057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7393&lon=-73.4791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39110/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA008 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight planning/preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot departed Gardiner at about 1530 with the assumption that the flight time would be about 35 minutes. While intercepting the final approach at Farmingdale, 'the left tank ran out of gas.' The pilot switched to the right tank and continued the approach. During the approach, at about 1722, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing and the airplane impacted a tree. Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in the fuel tanks and no anomalies with the fuel system. Additionally, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and recommended that the accident could have been prevented with better flight planning. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 1995, about 1722 eastern daylight time, a Beech B24R, N2544W, collided with a tree during a forced landing near Bethpage, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The personal flight originated in Gardiner, New York, at 1530 destined for Farmingdale, New York. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: ...Preflight showed 15 gallons of fuel in left tank, undetermined in the right tank. With the assumption that it took 35 minutes to get there [Farmingdale], and the fuel available when we left was 28 [to] 29 gallons, 5 [to] 6 gallons should be in the right tank....Decided to do a full instrument approach [to Farmingdale]....On the north shoreline of Long Island, I was turned west to pick up the ILS. Noting at the same time the wind was slowing us to 40 [to] 50 knots ground speed. Two to three miles before intercepting the ILS the left tank ran out of gas. Immediately I switched to the right tank and the engine came alive. Continued approach....I reported the outer marker to the tower. At approximately 700 [to] 800 feet, the engine sputtered, I turned on the fuel pump while pulling on the yoke to slow the aircraft to best glide, 80 MPH. With the headwinds on the ILS, I indicated 100 knots and was ground tracking at 65 knots. When the engine stopped, I believed we would be unable to reach the airport. I declared an emergency when the engine sputtered. Then told the tower I was going down off the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage and found both fuel tanks were empty, and the fuel tanks were not ruptured or leaking fuel. Additionally, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and recommended that better flight planning could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2544W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2544W-1996-07-08), registration cancelled 1996-07-08, S/N MC245 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B24R - Registry model: [Beech B24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b24r) (registry code 1151253) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-245 - Airframe hours: 2271 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey G. Schneider - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1994, 78 hours before - Departed: 5NY5, GARDINER, NY - Destination: FRG, FARMINGDALE, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FRG, Republic Airport, runway 14, 6,827 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 742 total, 542 in this make and model, 648 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 16 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FRG ## 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 19951014047249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951014047249A), Oct 14, 1995: Beech B24R, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on ILS approach. Landed short. Misjudged fuel quanity. Failed ascertain fuel in remaining 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. --- 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.