Beechcraft B95A N6600

Summary

On 23 April 1999 at about 23:00 local time, a Beechcraft B95A registered N6600, operated by Ronald E. Pressley, was involved in an accident near Fountain, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 April 1999 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fountain, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Panama City-Bay Co Int'l (KPFN)

Coordinates

30.4698, -85.4192

Aircraft

Beechcraft B95A

Registration

N6600

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Ronald E. Pressley

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Panama City → Johnson City

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99FA140

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane that resulted in a loss of engine power because of fuel vent blockage and his selection of unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before departure on a ferry flight, both previously damaged propellers were removed and replaced. An incorrect propeller was installed on the left position by a person with a revoked mechanic's certificate. The flight departed with full fuel tanks, all gears braced down, and no radios. After takeoff while flying with another airplane, the pilot motioned by hand signals that he needed to land. The pilot landed in a field with no flaps and after rolling approximately 300 feet, the airplane became airborne, then collided with several trees. Post accident examination revealed that the right propeller was feathered. Examination of the fuel vent system revealed all recovered fuel vents were blocked; an insect resembling a wasp was found in a section of the left fuel vent line. Examination of the flight controls, engines, and propellers revealed no evidence of pre-impact failure or mechanical malfunction. The No. 1 top spark plug of the left engine was missing. The pilot's airman certificate was suspended for 180 days in February 1996, for operating an airplane with incorrect propellers installed. The permanent maintenance records did not contain an entry that the airplane was inspected and found to be safe for the intended ferry flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.