Cessna 340A accident near Lancaster, Texas, June 14, 2001
On June 14, 2001 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N820B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Texas (Lancaster Municipal 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the collapse of the landing gear for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2001 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Texas · Lancaster Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N820B · no longer on the register · serial 340A-0328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot switched both fuel selectors from the auxiliary tanks to the main fuel tanks and started a descent by reducing power. During the descent, the right engine lost power. Subsequently, the left engine lost power. The pilot performed the emergency checklist and restarted both engines. Subsequently, the right engine again lost power. The landing gear collapsed during the single-engine landing, and the airplane exited the runway. The pilot stated that the "fuel selector valve failed to seal poppet valves internally, resulting in no fuel to right engine. Landing gear did not fully deploy on approach." Impact damage to the main landing gear assembly precluded a determination of the reason for the collapse of the landing gear; however, the motor operated when power was applied. During disassembly of the right fuel selector valve, the three Rulon-A seals were found depressed (stuck in the downed position) level with the housing, and the spring follower bushings for all three seals were missing. The fuel selector valve was re-assembled and pressure tested in accordance with manufacturer specifications. When the valve was set in the off position, leakage from the main port to the engine port was 212.904 cubic centimeters (cc) (specification 0.5 cc with 40 psig). When the valve was set in the main position, leakage from the auxiliary port to the engine port was 319.3456 cc (specification 0.5 cc with 8 psig). However, according to the manufacturer's representative, with the "right engine fuel selector valve in the right main tank position, the leakage would not prevent the right engine from operating when the fuel boost pumps were in the on position."
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 30, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,683 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,330 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOU Houston TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: LNC Lancaster TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:33 pm from RBD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.