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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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July 7, 1989 · Beech 58 · N9253A

Battle Creek, MI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 7, 1989
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Battle Creek, MI
Aircraft
Beech 58
Tail Number
N9253A
Operator
Aviation Specialist
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI89FA128

During the initial climb after takeoff, one of the crew members reported that the right engine lost power and that they would return for a landing. The aircraft was observed to circle to the left with the right propeller feathered. During the turn to the airport, the aircraft descended and crashed in a swampy area that was surrounded by trees. A post-impact fire erupted and destroyed the aircraft. Subsequent investigation verified that the right engine propeller had been feathered. The fuel selector for the right engine was found positioned between 'off' and 'on.' The magneto switch for the left engine was found in the 'off' position, while the magneto switch for the right engine was in the 'both' position. Remnants of the throw-over yoke showed that it was positioned to the copilot's side. The copilot's flight time in the Beech 58 was not verified. Both engines were removed and prepared for operational checks. After water contamination was cleaned from the engines, both were started and ran successfully.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FLIGHT CREW INADVERTENTLY SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE AFTER THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE COPILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR (PROBABLY) BY THE COPILOT AND IMPROPER MONITORING BY THE OTHER PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE RIGHT ENGINE.

Full Narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER & THAT THEY WOULD RETURN FOR A LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO CIRCLE TO THE LEFT WITH THE RIGHT PROP FEATHERED. DURING THE TURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED & CRASHED IN A SWAMPY AREA THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES. A POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED & DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION VERIFIED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER HAD BEEN FEATHERED. THE FUEL SELECTOR FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS FOUND POSITIONED BETWEEN 'OFF' & 'ON.' THE MAGNETO SWITCH FOR THE LEFT ENGINE WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION, WHILE THE MAGNETO SWITCH FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS IN THE 'BOTH' POSITION. REMNANTS OF THE THROW-OVER YOKE SHOWED THAT IT WAS POSITIONED TO THE COPILOT'S SIDE. THE COPILOT'S FLIGHT TIME IN THE BEECH 58 WAS NOT VERIFIED. BOTH ENGS WERE REMOVED & PREPARED FOR OPERATIONAL CHECKS. AFTER WATER CONTAMINATION WAS CLEANED FROM THE ENGINES, BOTH WERE STARTED & RAN SUCCESSFULLY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:12 EDT
Nearest AirportWKKELLOG (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length4835 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 58
Tail NumberN9253A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAviation Specialist
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-C · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 7 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:14
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data