Beech 55B accident near Buffalo, New York, February 18, 1998
On February 18, 1998 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech 55B, registered N1072W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, New York (Greater Buffalo Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper use of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and 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
- February 18, 1998 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, New York · Greater Buffalo Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55B
- Registration
- N1072W · no longer on the register · serial TC-1544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was cleared for takeoff on runway 14, and he applied full power for takeoff. At rotation, approximately 104 knots, the right engine lost power. He lowered the nose, applied full left rudder, but the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. The airplane collided with two taxiway signs, the right main gear sheared off, and the airplane came to rest opposite the direction of travel. He said he departed with the fuel selectors on the main tank position, and that he turned off all the switches before exiting the airplane. An FAA Inspector reported that he found the fuel selectors positioned to the auxiliary tanks. The right auxiliary fuel tank was drained and contained 3.5 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, '...Takeoff and land on main fuel tanks only...Do not take off if Fuel Quantity Gages indicate in Yellow Arc or with less than 13 gallons in each main tank...' The pilot reported that he had approximately 56 gallons on board, 1/4 in the auxiliary fuel tanks and 3/4 in the main fuel tanks. The engine was test run after the accident and it operated satisfactory.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO--520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUF at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ROC Rochester NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 5,376 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:09 pm from BUF, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.