Beechcraft B200 N780CA

Summary

On 29 June 2000 at about 13:00 local time, a Beechcraft B200 registered N780CA, operated by Ruand Inc., was involved in an accident near Joliet, Illinois, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2000 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Joliet, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Joliet Regional (JOT)

Coordinates

41.5092, -88.1809

Aircraft

Beechcraft B200

Registration

N780CA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Ruand Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kaiser Lake Osa → Romeoville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI00LA176

2 people had minor injuries.

the failure of the pilot to obtain fuel and the inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the fuel exhaustion and the ravine at the end of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The night before the day of the accident flight the pilot requested that the aircraft's main fuel tanks be filled. The aircraft was not fueled. The morning of the accident, the pilot checked the fuel quantity gauges and noted that they were reading lower than expected. The pilot indicated that there has been a history of inaccurate readings on the fuel gauges. The flight departed for a 45-minute flight to another airport to pick up passengers. The aircraft then departed for Romeoville, Illinois. While descending for landing the pilot felt a surge from the right engine, which subsequently stopped producing power. After completing the checklists, the pilot feathered and secured the engine. Continuing the descent the left engine also stopped producing power. During the forced landing, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and went into a ravine, causing substantial damage to the nose and right engine. Approximately 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the aircraft. The manufacturer tested the fuel quantity gauges. The report shows that the gauges were operating correctly for displaying indication for the main fuel tanks, but not for fuel quantity for the auxiliary tanks. Once re-calibrated, the gauges operated within tolerances for all fuel tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.