Beechcraft 58 N162DF

Summary

On 13 September 2021 at about 20:40 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N162DF, operated by Faford Aviation Leasing Co, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 September 2021 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (PAO)

Coordinates

37.4574, -122.1035

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N162DF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

2

Operator

Faford Aviation Leasing Co

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Reno

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA342

1 person was seriously injured.

The fuelers addition of the incorrect fuel to the fuel tanks which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, about 500 ft above the ground, both engines lost power. A forced landing was subsequently initiated to an open area. During the landing, the left wing collided with a wooden post and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preacccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was fueled before the flight. The fueler reported that he incorrectly fueled the airplane with Jet A fuel instead of Avgas. He added that he did not notice the “Avgas only” label adjacent to the fuel port, and that he did not follow the company’s fueling checklist while fueling the accident airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.