Beechcraft BE-23-B24R N6968R
23 May 1991 · Caribou, Maine, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 May 1991 at about 21:24 local time, a Beechcraft BE-23-B24R registered N6968R, operated by Skyline Aviation Corp., was involved in an accident near Caribou, Maine, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:24
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Caribou, Maine, United States
- Nearest airport
- Frenchville (FVE)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft BE-23-B24R
- Registration
- N6968R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Skyline Aviation Corp.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Frenchville → Portland
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA139
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION BY THE PILOT TO TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES; THE PILOT'S HARD LANDING DURING THE FORCED LANDING; AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 6500 FEET, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, BUT DID NOT FLARE THE AIRPLANE PROPERLY AND HIT THE GROUND VERY HARD. THE ENGINE HAD CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS FOR THE PILOT BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT HE DETERMINED IT WAS OPERATING SATISFACTORILY, AFTER SEVERAL FULL POWER RUN UPS. THE FAA FOUND THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING, RESULTING IN FUEL SYSTEM CAVITATION AND EVENTUAL FUEL STARVATION. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FAA AND THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE AUXILIARY FUEL BOOST PUMP MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RESTORE FUEL PRESSURE FAST ENOUGH FOR THE PILOT TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE EXECUTING THE FORCED LANDING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE PILOT CONCENTRATED ON THE EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MODEL OF 3.5 HOURS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft BE-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1990 | Beechcraft BE-23 | Burlington, Connecticut, United States | Summit Crane Co | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1990 | Beechcraft BE-23 | West Milford, New Jersey, United States | Raymond Fagamo | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Oct 1986 | Beechcraft BE-23 | Lake Village, Indiana, United States | Melvin M. Young | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1985 | Beechcraft BE-23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 1985 | Beechcraft BE-23-24 | Eureka, Utah, United States | Andrew B. Olerain | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Dec 1985 | Beechcraft BE-23 | Pensacola, Florida, United States | Pensacola Aeromotive | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-11 | Eagle Lake, Maine, United States | Conrad el Daigle | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172P | Greenville, Maine, United States | Folsom's Air Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150 | Ashland, Maine, United States | Garry Nelson, SR. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1991 | Taylorcraft BC/2D | Rangeley, Maine, United States | George S COY | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 May 1991 | Cessna 185F | Sanford, Maine, United States | George Grinnall | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1991 | Lake LA-4 | Wilton, Maine, United States | Al's Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |