Beech 18 accident near Belleville, Michigan, June 13, 1994
On June 13, 1994 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Beech 18, registered N231LJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belleville, Michigan (Detroit-Willow Run airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the fuel line on the unique STC'd engine installation. A related factor is the improper installation of a fuel line by company maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1994 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Michigan · Detroit-Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 18
- Registration
- N231LJ · registry record · serial 23835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS STATED THEY NOTICED THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATED BELOW NORMAL WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS ACTIVATED AND FUEL PRESSURE INCREASED TO THE NORMAL RANGE. THE PILOTS REPORTED AFTER LANDING THE LEFT ENGINE COMPRESSOR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT ENGINE #3 FUEL LINE FAILED. PHOTOS REVEALED THE BENDS IN THE #3 FUEL LINE HAD BEEN MODIFIED FOR THE UNIQUE INSTALLATION ON THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE FUEL LINE WAS DISCARDED BEFORE FURTHER EXAMINATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,650 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 4,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,892 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 22, 1994; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,230 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-6-252 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Kalitta Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SUS St. Louis MO at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27L, 6,511 ft by 160 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.