Beech C-45H accident near Lake Elsinore, California, May 29, 1991
On May 29, 1991 at about 2:55 am local time, a Beech C-45H, registered N9903Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California. It was a positioning 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
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRWORTHY PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1991 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-45H · all C-45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9903Z · no longer on the register · serial AF-853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ASKED BY ONE OF THE OWNERS TO FERRY THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN HE ARRIVED TO GET IT HE FOUND THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN DURING THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT HE FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK EMPTY AND ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT SAID HE LOADED 50 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH TANK, AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE FLIGHT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY 50 GALLONS. WHILE DESCENDING INTO LAKE ELSINORE ONE ENGINE QUIT FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE SECOND ONE AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 50 GALLONS. NO OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. ONE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT WHO WAS REPOSSESSING IT FROM A PARTNER SAID THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO A PUMP FAILURE THE OTHER OWNER HAD 'SOMEHOW RIGGED THE AIRCRAFT SO THAT BOTH ENGINES WOULD BE SUPPLIED BY THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.' THE OWNER SAID THAT BOTH HE AND THE PILOT WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MODIFICATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 8,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6CA7 Arvin CA at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.