Cessna 414A accident near Mckinney, Texas, June 27, 2024
On June 27, 2024 at about 3:28 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 414A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N414BS, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Mckinney, Texas (Mckinney National Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt continued flight after a loss of left engine power with usable runway remaining and his subsequent failure to follow the emergency procedures and maintain air minimum control speed, which resulted in a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel tank selection that resulted in a loss of left 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
- June 27, 2024 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinney, Texas · Mckinney National Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A, built 1980, amateur-built · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N414BS · registry record · serial 414A0504
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing on a local flight to check newly installed avionics on the airplane. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off within the performance specifications cited in the airplane flight manual. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot reported to air traffic control (ATC) that he had lost left engine power. The pilot continued the takeoff with the landing gear still extended. A witness stated that the airplane seemed to lose left engine power during the takeoff before reaching taxiway B4, and “yawed left quite a bit.” The remaining runway distance from the B4 taxiway to the departure end of the runway was about 2,600 to 2,700 ft. The witness stated that the airplane was not far past the departure end of runway when it began to turn left. As the pilot continued the takeoff and attempted the climb out, ATC instructed the pilot to turn right. The pilot responded that he was going to turn left, which was a turn into the inoperative engine and in the improper direction due to the greater left rolling tendency and increased likelihood of a loss of control. As the flight progressed, the airplane ground speed slowed to the airplane’s air minimum control speed (Vmc) when it rolled left and impacted terrain in an inverted attitude. The airplane was destroyed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination revealed the left engine fuel tank valve was in the Off position, which starved the left engine of fuel, creating a total loss of left engine power. The left engine propeller was not feathered, and the landing gear was extended. Although the pilot completed ground and flight training and a proficiency check in the make and model airplane about 4 months before the accident, he failed to ensure proper fuel tank selection, with the fuel selector in the OFF position for the left engine and failed to land on the remaining runway after the loss of left engine power. Following the decision to continue the takeoff, the pilot also failed to follow engine inoperative emergency procedures that would have increased airspeed/climb rate to enable continued flight. The pilot’s actions resulted in a loss of control that led to a Vmc roll and impact with terrain.
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 takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,544 hours in all
- Last flight review: March 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,223.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 6,900 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 6,542 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 7,685 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from TKI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 CEN24FA240.