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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 29, 1991 · Beech C-45H · N9903Z

Lake Elsinore, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 29, 1991
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA
Aircraft
Beech C-45H
Tail Number
N9903Z
Operator
Steve Malmborg
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA228

The pilot said that he was asked by one of the owners to ferry the aircraft. When he arrived to get it, he found that the right engine had been shut down during the previous flight. He said that he found the right fuel tank empty and about 20 gallons of fuel in the left tank. The pilot said he loaded 50 gallons of fuel in each tank, after determining that the flight would require only 50 gallons. While descending into Lake Elsinore, one engine quit followed quickly by the second one, and the pilot landed in a field. FAA inspectors found the right fuel tank contained no fuel and the left tank contained about 50 gallons. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during the investigation. One owner of the aircraft who was repossessing it from a partner said that after the accident he was informed that due to a pump failure, the other owner had 'somehow rigged the aircraft so that both engines would be supplied by the right fuel tank.' The owner said that both he and the pilot were unaware of this modification.

NTSB Probable Cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRWORTHY PRIOR TO FLIGHT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ASKED BY ONE OF THE OWNERS TO FERRY THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN HE ARRIVED TO GET IT HE FOUND THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN DURING THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK EMPTY AND ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT SAID HE LOADED 50 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH TANK, AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE FLIGHT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY 50 GALLONS. WHILE DESCENDING INTO LAKE ELSINORE ONE ENGINE QUIT FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE SECOND ONE AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 50 GALLONS. NO OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ONE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT WHO WAS REPOSSESSING IT FROM A PARTNER SAID THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO A PUMP FAILURE THE OTHER OWNER HAD 'SOMEHOW RIGGED THE AIRCRAFT SO THAT BOTH ENGINES WOULD BE SUPPLIED BY THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.' THE OWNER SAID THAT BOTH HE AND THE PILOT WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MODIFICATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:55 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech C-45H
Tail NumberN9903Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSteve Malmborg
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985 · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data