Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 accident near Yorktown, New York, April 20, 2012
On April 20, 2012 at about 8:26 pm local time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, registered N821SM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Yorktown, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper placement of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to perform the published emergency procedure by the checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2012 · about 8:26 pm local time
- Place
- Yorktown, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company A36
- Registration
- N821SM · no longer on the register · serial E-3031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in cruise flight at 7,000 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot requested vectors to the nearest airport but determined the airplane would not reach the requested landing site. He selected a forced landing site on a corporate complex and completed the forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. During the descent, he stated that he performed remedial actions in accordance with the checklist and switched the fuel selector from the right tank position to the left tank. Later, the pilot stated that he did not consult a checklist, but performed emergency action items "from memory." He added that the engine would surge during the descent but would not produce sufficient power to maintain altitude. A witness stated that he saw the airplane at low altitude near the campus and described the engine sound as surging between idle and "extremely high rpm." He said that the engine sounded as though it was "starving for fuel." Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The fuel selector was found in a position between the left tank and right tank detents. A detailed examination revealed continuity of the fuel system, unobstructed fuel lines and filters, and an operational fuel selector. The engine was removed from the airplane and placed in a test cell, where it started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. The engine run revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation and the production of rated power. A warning in the airplane manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook stated: "POSITION [Fuel] SELECTOR IN DETENTS ONLY – NO FUEL FLOW TO ENGINE BETWEEN DETENTS" It is likely that the pilot moved the fuel selector during cruise flight but did not ensure that it was seated correctly in the detent. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. Because the pilot did not perform the requisite emergency procedures, he did not recognize that the fuel selector was not seated properly.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 383 hours in all; 165 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,503 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2011; 43 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: OWD Norwood MA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from HPN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.