Beechcraft F33A N4514S

Summary

On 11 August 2013 at about 15:35 local time, a Beechcraft F33A registered N4514S was involved in an accident near Ennis, Texas, 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

11 August 2013 at 15:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Ennis, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.2036, -96.7075

Aircraft

Beechcraft F33A

Registration

N4514S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenville → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13FA476

2 people died.

The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations due to postcrash fire damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to air traffic control (ATC) recordings, the pilot contacted ATC and requested radar flight following services. About 30 minutes later, the pilot cancelled flight following services and changed his destination airport. Radar data indicate that the airplane was at an altitude of 10,300 feet mean sea level (msl) at this time. During the next 5 minutes 11 seconds, the airplane descended 5,400 feet (about 1,000 feet per minute) and made a left turn from a southerly to a northerly heading. The pilot reported to ATC that he had turned back toward the destination airport but that the airplane was having some fuel issues, and he then requested the closest airport. The air traffic controller stated that the destination airport was the closest airport, and the pilot replied, "Uh, roger that, I am gonna..." No further communications were received from the pilot. The airplane wreckage was located 9.17 miles north-northeast of the last known radar location. During the forced landing to the field, the airplane struck trees and brush, and a postimpact fire ensued. Several witnesses in the area reported observing the airplane flying low to the ground as if the pilot was preparing to land. One witness stated that the wings rocked back and forth several times as the airplane continued to descend. Another witness stated that the airplane hit a tree and "exploded." An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel system was damaged by the fire and could not be fully examined. The extent of the postimpact fire was consistent with the airplane having an adequate amount of fuel onboard. The source of the fuel issue and the reason for the subsequent loss of engine power could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.