Cessna 340 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, July 15, 1990
On July 15, 1990 at about 8:16 pm local time, a Cessna 340, registered N9865F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE FUEL MANAGEMENT, IN THAT HE DID NOT SELECT MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THIS APPROACH. THIS RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINES, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ALL ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1990 · about 8:16 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Fulton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N9865F · no longer on the register · serial 340-0161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LEVEL OFF FROM HIS DESCENT FOR A VISUAL APPROACH, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT BOTH ENGINES HAD QUIT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SWITCHED TO HIS MAIN FUEL TANKS 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, AND THAT HE HAD ABOUT 150 POUNDS OF FUEL IN EACH OF HIS FOUR TANKS. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ONLY .25 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK. THE OTHER TANKS WERE RUPTURED FROM IMPACT FORCES. ALTHOUGH THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS ARE TO BE USED IN CRUISE FLIGHT ONLY, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS USING THE AUXILIARY TANKS DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,250 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,667 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1989; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,975 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BCN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA Spartanburg SC at 7:15 pm
- Destination: FTY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,796 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from FTY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.