Beech 33 accident near Wichita, Kansas, August 1, 1994
On August 1, 1994 at about 3:15 am local time, a Beech 33, registered N7960M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Jabara airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate management of the fuel which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1994 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Jabara
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 33
- Registration
- N7960M · no longer on the register · serial CE-109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ENTERED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE AIRPLANE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE SELECTED FUEL TANK AND TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RAN FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. THE PILOT SWITCHED THE SELECTED FUEL TANK AGAIN AND TRIED TO RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON AN ADJACENT FIELD. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT. THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE WAS FOUND 1/4 TO 1/8 ROTATION OUT OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK SELECTION DETENT. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PREFORMED. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND RAN UP TO 2750 RPM WITHOUT INCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 163 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,885 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C2 New Lennox IL
- Destination: ICT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 am from ICT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.