Beech 58 accident near Rainelle, West Virginia, September 18, 2010
On September 18, 2010 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N86BR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Rainelle, West Virginia. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper rigging of the fuel selector by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2010 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rainelle, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N86BR · registry record · serial TH-1072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the right engine lost power. He attempted to move the left fuel selector to the crossfeed position in an attempt to restart the right engine, but the fuel selector knob would not turn clockwise to that position. Shortly thereafter, the left engine lost power. The pilot feathered both propellers and set the airplane up for its best glide angle in an attempt to reach the closest airport. His attempts to restart the engines during the descent were unsucessful. The pilot made a forced landing in the backyard of a private residence, and the airplane collided with a house, sustaining substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel selectors were indicating "on" for both fuel tanks, and the left fuel selector knob would not rotate clockwise to the crossfeed position. When the left fuel selector valve was disassembled, it was found to be rigged incorrectly. In the “on” position, the valve should have drawn fuel from the left and right fuel tanks. Instead, it drew fuel from the right tank only. The right fuel tank was found to be empty of all usable fuel. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the left fuel selector was removed, resealed, and reinstalled prior to the accident.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Return to service › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,787 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,731 as pilot in command; 1,436 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,321 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2010; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO 550 C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO 550 C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Albatross Aircraft Sales INC
The flight
- Departed from: MGW Morgantown WV at 8:45 pm
- Destination: BLF Bluefield WV
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from BLF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.