Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC accident near Chesterfield, Missouri, December 6, 2017
On December 6, 2017 at about 8:54 pm local time, a 2001 Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC, registered N679EA, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Chesterfield, Missouri (Spirit of St. Louis Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2017 · about 8:54 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Chesterfield, Missouri · Spirit of St. Louis Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC, built 2001
- Registration
- N679EA · registry record · serial EA-679
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was nearing the destination airport at the conclusion of an approximate 1,100 nautical mile cross-country flight; the accident occurred about 5 hours 26 minutes after takeoff. During the visual approach for landing, the pilot performed a constant left turn for about 3 minutes from the downwind leg to the final leg of the traffic pattern. About the time the pilot rolled out of the left turn and onto the final approach leg, he reported to the tower controller that he had an issue and was losing engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted a gas station pump canopy and parking lot about 1 mile from the end of the runway, where it was destroyed during a post-impact fire. Several witnesses near the accident location observed the airplane at a low altitude with the wings rocking back and forth, and they heard no engine noise. A postaccident examination of the airframe and a functional engine test revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel selector was found on the left tank position. The total fuel quantity of fuel on board the airplane at takeoff and the quantity remaining in each fuel tank at the accident site could not be determined; however, the airplane would likely have been low on fuel as it neared the departure airport. It is likely that the pilot's extended left turn from downwind to final approach moved fuel away from the fuel tank pick up point, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management other cases naming the fuel system
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,620 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 722.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Tcm TSIO-520-UB (piston); 787 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 3:26 pm
- Destination: SUS St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26L, 7,485 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from SUS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident Site
Photo 2 – Accident Site
Photo 3 – Accident Site
Photo 4 – Accident Site
Photo 5 – Engine and Propeller
Photo 6 – Fuselage Cabin and Cockpit
Photo 7 – Propeller Assembly (CMI Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on June 12, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N679EA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Raytheon Aircraft Company 2,138 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Tcm TSIO-520-UB 28 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Spirit Of St. Louis Airport · nearest airport
- Phoenix Deer Valley Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Missouri 1,640 since 1982 · 219 in the last ten years
- Missouri 5,821 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN18FA049.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.