Beech A 36 accident near Ocean Island Be, North Carolina, February 10, 1990
On February 10, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech A 36, registered N4723M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocean Island Be, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO TURN ON THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP DURING ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Island Be, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A 36 · all A 36s on the register
- Registration
- N4723M · no longer on the register · serial E-1254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD RETURNED FROM A 3.5 HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PREVIOUS WEEK. THIS FLIGHT WAS TO FUEL THE AIRPLANE AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT SAW A RAIN SHOWER AT THE DESTINATION & RETURNED TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. ON BASE LEG THE ENGINE QUIT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS CHANGED FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT BUT, THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP WAS LEFT OFF. A FORCED LANDING ENSUED ON A SAND DUNE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 1/2 GAL OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK & EIGHT PLUS GALS IN THE LEFT TANK. A WX BRIEF WAS NOT OBTAINED. FLIGHT MANUAL LIST AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP-ON IN ENGINE FAILURE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sun Bird Investment, INC
The flight
- Departed from: 60J at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from CRE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.