# NTSB SEA92LA003: Cessna 337A-RG, N6396F, Snohomish, WA, October 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1991, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Snohomish, WA
- Coordinates: 47.940864, -122.000755 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9409&lon=-122.0008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41597/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA003

## Probable cause

FUEL SYSTEM STARVATION, DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION. FACTORS INCLUDE PROCEDURES NOT BEING FOLLOWED, AND INATTENTIVENESS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - inattentive, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - all engines
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

NEITHER THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT NOR THE STUDENT IN THE CESSNA 337 REALIZED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECONFIGURED THE FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE LAST SIMULATED ENGINE-OUT APPROACH. THEY THEREFORE WERE FEEDING BOTH ENGINES FROM ONE TANK. WHILE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. JUST AFTER THE FINAL TAKEOFF THEY EXHAUSTED THE FUEL IN THE SELECTED TANK AND, ALTHOUGH THE SELECTOR WAS THEN REPOSITIONED, WERE UNABLE TO REGAIN POWER IN TIME TO AVOID THE FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A FIELD OF CORN ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6396F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6396F), registered now, S/N 337-0396 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337A-RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 337A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337a) (registry code 2075704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 337-0396
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-D 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dawson, Richard D.
- Airport: 543, Harvey Airfield, runway 14, 2,600 × 30 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 9,500 total, 16 in this make and model, 9,420 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19911008045469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911008045469A), Oct 8, 1991: Cessna 337A, Snohomish, WA, Substantial damage. Set crossfeed for simulated engine out practice. Forgot restore normal fuel operations tank dry. Lost both engines.

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.