- Date
- April 30, 1994, 08:48 local (15:48 UTC)
- Place
- Everett, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N24661Beech A24R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940430009629A
- Case key
- 41918
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
Fuel system pump contamination and procedures/directives were not followed.
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
Shortly after takeoff the pilot heard two loud pops from the engine before it lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing straight ahead. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the airport boundary fence. During the engine inspection, it was found that the mechanical fuel pump contained rust like deposits which were partially blocking the fuel ports. In the event of a loss of power after take off, the procedure is to turn on the auxiliary boost pump. The pilot did not turn on the boost pump.
Factual narrative
On April 30, 1994, at 0848 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A24R, N24661, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Everett, Washington. The pilot initiated a forced landing where, during the landing roll, the airplane collided with an airport boundary fence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the pleasure flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. The flight was en route to Arlington, Washington.
The pilot reported that between 250 and 300 feet above ground level, just after takeoff, he heard two pops from the engine. The engine then lost power and the pilot initiated a forced landing straight ahead. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a fence.
During the engine inspection, it was found that rust like deposits were present in the mechanical fuel pump and was partially blocking the fuel ports.
The Beech Operations Manual states that the boost pump is used for starting and is not on for take off and landing. However, for a loss of power after take off, the procedure is to turn on the boost pump. The pilot did not turn on the boost pump.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N24661
- Reported as
- Beech A24R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- MC-133
- Airframe hours
- 2,518
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Petersen, Howard F.
- Registered owner
- Petersen, Howard F.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 1994 · 21 hours before
- Destination
- S88 · Arlington, WA
- Airport
- PAE · Paine Field, runway 34R, 3,000 × 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 275 total · 84 in this make and model · 275 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.