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NTSB Report
December 13, 1984 · Beech D18S · N8517Z
Norfolk, VA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 13, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Norfolk, VA
Aircraft
Beech D18S
Tail Number
N8517Z
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL85FA054
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN ILS APPROACH FOLLOWING AN ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE ON AN AIR TAXI FREIGHT FLIGHT. THE PLT RELATED THAT AT ABOUT 550 FT ON THE APPROACH TO RWY 23 THE LEFT ENG FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED & THE LT ENG LOSS POWER. THE PLT OPENED THE CROSSFEED VALVE & SHORTLY THE RT FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER ON THE RT ENG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE IS ONE FUEL GAUGE FOR THE TANK SYSTEM & A SELECTOR SWITCH MUST BE ACTIVATED TO DETERMINE THE FUEL QUANTITY IN ANY DESIRED TANK. THE PLT'S ACTION IN SELECTING CROSSFEED & NOT CLOSING THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE ALLOWED FUEL TO BE DIVERTED FROM THE OPERATIVE RT ENG RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN ILS APPROACH FOLLOWING AN ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE ON AN AIR TAXI FREIGHT FLIGHT. THE PLT RELATED THAT AT ABOUT 550 FT ON THE APPROACH TO RWY 23 THE LEFT ENG FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED & THE LT ENG LOSS POWER. THE PLT OPENED THE CROSSFEED VALVE & SHORTLY THE RT FUEL PRESS WARNING LITE ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER ON THE RT ENG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE IS ONE FUEL GAUGE FOR THE TANK SYSTEM & A SELECTOR SWITCH MUST BE ACTIVATED TO DETERMINE THE FUEL QUANTITY IN ANY DESIRED TANK. THE PLT'S ACTION IN SELECTING CROSSFEED & NOT CLOSING THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE ALLOWED FUEL TO BE DIVERTED FROM THE OPERATIVE RT ENG RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:51 EST
Nearest AirportNorfolk Int'L (1nm NE)
Runway23
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBeech D18S
Tail NumberN8517Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R985-14B · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind210° @ 10 kt
Visibility19000 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:50
Weather SourceWFAC