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Accidents · NTSB ERA20LA052 · Final report

Beech 55 accident near Grove City, Pennsylvania, October 1, 2019

On October 1, 2019 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1970 Beech 55, registered N9404Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Grove City, Pennsylvania (Grove City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s mismanagement of the airplane’s available fuel, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power to the left engine, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while on final approach to the runway.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 1, 2019 · about 4:00 pm local time
Place
Grove City, Pennsylvania · Grove City · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Beech 55 95B55, built 1970
Registration
N9404Q · no longer on the register · serial TC-1352
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane was returning to the departure airport and was on final approach to the runway at an altitude of about 200 ft above ground level. The pilot believed that the airplane was approaching the runway too low and increased power to the engines, but the left engine did not respond as he expected. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control of the airplane, but the airplane impacted the grass to the left of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel selector was positioned to the main tank, where about 4.6 gallons of fuel (3.5 gallons of which was usable) were present. One ounce of fuel was found in the main fuel line to the left engine, and “one drop” of fuel was found in the fuel line to the fuel flow divider. Examination of the left engine otherwise revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident. The pilot provided conflicting statements describing of the events that transpired on the day of the accident regarding the flight’s itinerary and the amount of fuel onboard the airplane. Given that the postaccident examination of the engine showed no discrepancies, and that only trace amounts of fuel were found in the fuel system and engine, it is most likely that the pilot did not adequately manage the available fuel supply, which resulted in the reported loss of left engine power while on final approach to the runway. The pilot subsequently failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the events that followed, which ultimately resulted in impact with terrain.

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

  1. Loss of control in flight during landing
  2. Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot, private
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 3,020 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 3,020 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2019
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine 1: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
  • Engine 2: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 29D Grove City PA at 2:00 pm
  • Destination: 29D Grove City PA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 28, 4,500 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
  • Observation at 4:00 pm from KUCP, 13 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 24, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.