Beech F33A accident near Steamboat Sprgs, Colorado, October 3, 1992
On October 3, 1992 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N4532S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Steamboat Sprgs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA WHEN A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA WAS AVAILABLE. A FACTOR WAS: FUEL STARVATION FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1992 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Steamboat Sprgs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N4532S · registry record · serial CE-598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMB OVER A 12,000 FOOT MOUNTAIN RANGE FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING SUFFICIENT POWER SO HE ELECTED TO TURN TOWARDS LOWER TERRAIN. THE ENGINE THEN FAILED TOTALLY AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN HIGH VEGETATION NEXT TO A HAY FIELD. DURING LANDING SLIDE, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A DITCH. EXAMINATION PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF NO FUEL IN THE LINES OR STRAINER AND ONLY TRACES OF FUEL IN THE FUEL CONTROL. A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE PRODUCED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. THE WINGS CONTAINED WHAT THE SALVAGE CREW DESCRIBED AS ADEQUATE FUEL FOR OPERATION, AND THE HAY FIELD WAS DESCRIBED AS SUITABLE FOR A NORMAL LANDING.
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: 480 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 333 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 39,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Denver Air Center
The flight
- Departed from: CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: FNL Ft. Collins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from SBS, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.