Beechcraft F35 N3886B

Summary

On 10 September 1993 at about 21:30 local time, a Beechcraft F35 registered N3886B was involved in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 September 1993 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.6303, -88.8195

Aircraft

Beechcraft F35

Registration

N3886B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McMinnville → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93FA155

2 people died.

The improper use of old auto fuel for the refueling of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the deterioration of the octane in the auto fuel being used in the aircraft and the delayed decision by the pilot to choose a suitable area and execute a forced landing prior to loss of all altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MANASSAS, VA., ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO MEMPHIS, TN. APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES SOUTH OF MANASSAS, THE PILOT REPORTED (UNSPECIFIED) MECHANICAL TROUBLE, AND LANDED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THE PILOT PURCHASED 11 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. THE FLIGHT THEN DEPARTED WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE. THE AIRCRAFT LATER LANDED IN MCMINNVILLE, TN. THE PILOT THEN PURCHASED 30.8 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MCMINNVILLE WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT CONTACTED JACKSON, TN. AFSS AND REPORTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH 'SOME TIME BACK' AFTER A PREVIOUS STOP. HE STATED, JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THAT HE HAD PASSED OVER NUMEROUS OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITES, BUT THAT NOW HE HAD FEW OPTIONS REMAINING. FOUR FIVE GALLON PLASTIC CONTAINERS, WITH THE ODOR OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL, WERE FOUND ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. A PLASTIC FUEL CAP FROM ONE OF THE CONTAINERS WAS FOUND INSIDE THE RIGHT FUEL CELL. THE FUEL DRAINED FROM THE AIRCRAFT SMELLED AND LOOKED LIKE OLD AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.