Beech F33A accident near Perry, Kansas, July 1, 2010
On July 1, 2010 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N3071T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Perry, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine driven fuel pump causing a loss of engine power and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the emergency procedures checklist and utilize the electric fuel boost pump which would have restored engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2010 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Perry, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N3071T · no longer on the register · serial CE-1158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported a loss of engine power to an air traffic controller and was then provided vectors to an airport located 10 miles south of the airplane's position. The radar track illustrated the airplane reversed course back to the east and then to the south towards the airport. According to a witness in the area, the airplane was extremely low and started to turn or rotate when the nose dropped and he lost sight of the airplane; the airplane impacted an open field in a nose low attitude. Recorded engine data revealed that the fuel flow dropped to zero and cylinder head temperature and rpm decreased. An examination of the airframe and its related systems revealed no anomalies. An examination of the engine revealed that the engine driven fuel pump was seized and could not be rotated by hand. Further examination revealed that foreign particles in the bearing resulted in the seizure of the fuel pump. The source of the foreign particles was not determined. The emergency procedures checklist for a loss of engine power included the activation of the auxiliary fuel pump. The switch was in the off position at the accident site. An examination of the auxiliary fuel pump revealed no anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 7, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,233.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 2009
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMKC Kansas City MO
- Destination: KSJN St Johns AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KLWC, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.