Beech F33A accident near Hilbert, Wisconsin, February 6, 2023
On February 6, 2023 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1973 Beech F33A, registered N1074W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Hilbert, Wisconsin. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2023 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hilbert, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A, built 1973 · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N1074W · registry record · serial CE-432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during initial climb through about 5,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Unable to return to the departure airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank contained no usable fuel, and the right fuel tank was full of fuel. After the airplane was recovered, a functional engine test run, with the right fuel tank selected, was completed with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have a better understanding of engine restart procedures. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel starvation.
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 initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,655 hours in all; 827 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,587 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 3,038 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 5:56 pm
- Destination: LOT Romeoville IL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:00 pm from ATW, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA133.