Beech B200 accident near Joliet, Illinois, June 29, 2000
On June 29, 2000 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Beech B200, registered N780CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joliet, Illinois (Joliet Regional airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to obtain fuel and the inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the fuel exhaustion and the ravine at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2000 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Joliet, Illinois · Joliet Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B200 · all B200s on the register
- Registration
- N780CA · registry record · serial BB-1547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The night before the day of the accident flight the pilot requested that the aircraft's main fuel tanks be filled. The aircraft was not fueled. The morning of the accident, the pilot checked the fuel quantity gauges and noted that they were reading lower than expected. The pilot indicated that there has been a history of inaccurate readings on the fuel gauges. The flight departed for a 45-minute flight to another airport to pick up passengers. The aircraft then departed for Romeoville, Illinois. While descending for landing the pilot felt a surge from the right engine, which subsequently stopped producing power. After completing the checklists, the pilot feathered and secured the engine. Continuing the descent the left engine also stopped producing power. During the forced landing, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft on the runway. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and went into a ravine, causing substantial damage to the nose and right engine. Approximately 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the aircraft. The manufacturer tested the fuel quantity gauges. The report shows that the gauges were operating correctly for displaying indication for the main fuel tanks, but not for fuel quantity for the auxiliary tanks. Once re-calibrated, the gauges operated within tolerances for all fuel tanks.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 15,700 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 11, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-42 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ruand INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AIZ Kaiser Lake Osa MO at 12:10 pm
- Destination: LOT Romeoville IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 2,940 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from MDW, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.