Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 29, 2000 · Beech B200 · N780CA

Joliet, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 29, 2000
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 3 uninjured
Location
Joliet, IL
Aircraft
Beech B200
Tail Number
N780CA
Operator
Ruand
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI00LA176

The night before the day of the accident flight, the pilot requested that the aircraft's main fuel tanks be filled. The aircraft was not fueled. The morning of the accident, the pilot checked the fuel quantity gauges and noted that they were reading lower than expected. The pilot indicated that there has been a history of inaccurate readings on the fuel gauges. The flight departed for a 45-minute flight to another airport to pick up passengers. The aircraft then departed for Romeoville, Illinois. While descending for landing, the pilot felt a surge from the right engine, which subsequently stopped producing power. After completing the checklists, the pilot feathered and secured the engine. Continuing the descent, the left engine also stopped producing power. During the forced landing, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and went into a ravine, causing substantial damage to the nose and right engine. Approximately 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the aircraft. The manufacturer tested the fuel quantity gauges. The report shows that the gauges were operating correctly for displaying indication for the main fuel tanks, but not for fuel quantity for the auxiliary tanks. Once re-calibrated, the gauges operated within tolerances for all fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the pilot to obtain fuel and the inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the fuel exhaustion and the ravine at the end of the runway.

Full Narrative

On June 29, 2000, at approximately 0800 central daylight time, a Beech B200 Super King Air, N780CA, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing and overrun on runway 12 (2,940 feet by 100 feet, asphalt), at the Joliet Regional Airport, Joliet, Illinois, following a total loss of engine power in cruise. The business flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was operating on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries; two passengers reported minor injuries. The flight departed the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport, Kaiser Lake Ozark, Missouri at 0710, en route to the Lewis University Airport, Romeoville, Illinois. According to a statement by the pilot, he requested Executive Beechcraft at the Kansas City Airport to fill the main fuel tanks on 780CA the night before the accident flight, but made no instructions for filling the auxiliary fuel tanks. A statement by Executive Beechcraft states, "According to our records we did not fuel King Air 200 Registered N780CA on June 29, 2000." The pilot reported, "I then checked the fuel quantity gauges for the main fuel tanks...the fuel quantity gauge indicated just about a needle width above 1100 pounds of fuel, and the fuel quantity gauge for the right main tank indicated almost 1150 pounds of fuel. I then checked the fuel quantity gauges for the auxiliary tanks by selecting the fuel quantity switch to 'auxiliary'...the fuel gauges indicated just above -0- on the left auxiliary fuel tank gauge and just below the -0- on the right auxiliary fuel tank gauge. (The fuel quantity gauge needles should have indicated between 1225 pounds of fuel and 1275 pounds of fuel in each main tank.)" "For the past three years, July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2000, we have documented the history in N780CA's...maintenance logbooks of the erratic and unpredictable behavior of both the main and auxiliary fuel quantity indicators! Repairs conducted in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended specifications to effect a permanent fix of these irregular fuel quantity indications have not been successful." The pilot continued, "Deja vu. A little over a year ago I was scheduled to pick up our folks in Chicago for a day trip. I called in my fuel order to Executive Beechcraft...ramp and top the mains." [fill the main tanks with fuel] ..."Leveling at 5000 feet MSL [mean sea level] heading NE [northeast], my cruise check found the main fuel gauges had gone to about 600 pounds indicated in the left main fuel tank and just above the yellow caution fuel markings for the right main fuel tank. I didn't know what to believe...gauges were unreliable. Did I have a capacitance problem with the fuel gauges, or had Executive Beechcraft forgot to fill my fuel order...again?" "After landing, I taxied to the West side of the airport where we have hangar space rented and I can find [mechanic], my mechanic. ([Mechanic] holds A&P [airframe and powerplant] and the IA [inspection authorization] licenses. [Mechanic] is also a commercial, multi-engine rated pilot.) I was really in a foul mood. I asked [mechanic] to check out the fuel gauges as fast as he was capable of doing and get me on my way to Chicago. [Mechanic] made the comment that we should first check and see how much fuel EB [Executive Beechcraft] had put onboard when they topped off the mains. Surprise...EB had not fueled N180CA [accident aircraft] as requested per my fuel order. They had no record of my request. I went ballistic!!! We have a screwed up fuel measurement system that we have been trying to fix in accordance with instructions from the manufacturer, and now I can't trust EB to fill my fuel orders. (I've caught EB twice in 2000 NOT FILLING my fuel orders...'it wasn't written down on our ramp list'.)" The pilot stated that while 19 nm from the Lewis University Airport (LOT), he felt a surge on the right engine. The pilot secured and feathered the right engine. While continuing the descent to LOT the left engine surged. According to the pilot, "I knew right then and there that I had some type of a fuel condition problem...and it was confirmed when I checked the fuel gauges again and saw the fuel quantity needles in the yellow fuel caution range! N780CA was out of fuel...." The pilot attempted to land on runway 12 at Joliet, but was unable to stop the aircraft on the available runway surface. The aircraft ran off the end of the runway into a ravine that is situated at the end of runway 12. Approximately five gallons of a fuel like substance was drained from the aircraft in a post-accident examination. The manufacturer tested the fuel quantity gauges. According to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who oversaw the test, "The first procedure was to test the indicators in their arrival state. Both indicators were checked for main tank channel [main fuel tank quantity indications] accuracy and auxiliary tank channel [auxiliary fuel tank quantity indications] accuracy. Both indicators tested within tolerance or very close to tolerance on the main channel. However, both indicators were considerably off on the auxiliary channel. Indicator, [left fuel quantity gauge] showed 282.67 lbs. [pounds of fuel] high at the '0' and '300' lbs. check points. Indicator, [right fuel quantity gauge] showed 273.3 lbs. high at the '0' and '300' lbs. check points. These are the only two check points that are checked on the auxiliary channel." "The indicators were then put through the complete test and calibration procedures. Both indicators were able to be calibrated and passed all test procedures with no abnormalities noted."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 CDT
Nearest AirportJoliet Regional (0nm)
Runway12
Runway Length2940 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech B200
Tail NumberN780CA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRuand
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-42 · Turboprop · 850
Seats9

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured3
Total5
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data