NTSB Accident Reports

A monthly summary of recently published NTSB preliminary accident reports involving general aviation and air carrier aircraft.

Editorial Staff

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 02:42 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Multiple accidents involved total or partial engine power loss, frequently attributed to mechanical failures like crankcase damage, alternator belt breaks, or fuel system issues, as well as pilot error in fuel management.
Beyond engine issues, other mechanical failures such as a broken pilot seat, unresponsive flight controls, or a critical engine mount failure led to loss of aircraft control and subsequent forced landings.
Several fatal incidents highlighted critical pilot decision-making factors, including difficulty with night VFR references, continued flight into severe weather, and a mid-air collision during a busy traffic pattern.

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September 1, 2023, Ava, Mo.

Beech 35-B33 Debonair

At about 1500 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it was landed off-airport following total loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger incurred no injuries.

While en route, the airplane lost all engine power; engine oil covered the cowling, windscreen and lower fuselage. During the forced landing to a field, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright in a nose-down attitude. Examination revealed a hole in the engine crankcase.