Beech C24R accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts, October 15, 2004
On October 15, 2004 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Beech C24R, registered N6598C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts (Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polan 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's failure to secure the fuel pressure line to the fuel pressure gauge fitting, which resulted in an engine compartment fire and a subsequent 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
- October 15, 2004 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hyannis, Massachusetts · Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C24R · all C24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6598C · no longer on the register · serial MC790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After maintenance to repair a magneto problem, the pilot verified that the magneto check was satisfactory during the engine run-up. After takeoff, and while being vectored for a localizer approach, the pilot smelled smoke in the cockpit. As the pilot attempted to discern the source of the smoke, the engine stopped producing power, the nose of the airplane pitched down, and black smoke poured from the defroster vents. The pilot turned in the general direction of the departure airport, descended below the cloud layer, and performed a forced landing to a golf course. Examination of the airplane revealed extensive fire damage in the engine compartment. Further examination revealed that the fuel pressure line to the fuel pressure gauge was disconnected from its baffle fitting. The line was "rerouted," and the line was held in place between an oil supply line and structural tubing. Examination of the airplane's logbooks revealed that no entries were made that reflected the repair work to the magnetos. On the pilot's receipt, however, the mechanic wrote, "Reinstalled P-leads on mags." According to an FAA inspector's statement, "To gain access to the left magneto, the fuel line must be moved out of the way."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,090 hours in all; 2,854 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,031 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2004; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis MA at 6:40 pm
- Destination: MVY Vineyard Haven MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 5,425 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 100 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 2:41 pm from HYA, 1 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.