Beech 55B accident near Cupertino, California, July 17, 1991
On July 17, 1991 at about 11:52 pm local time, a Beech 55B, registered N54339, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cupertino, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT INACCURATELY CALCULATING FUEL CONSUMPTION AND FUEL REQUIREMENTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1991 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Cupertino, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 55B
- Registration
- N54339 · no longer on the register · serial 66-4307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT OF A PRECISION APPROACH RADAR (PAR), THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND THEN NOTICED THE RIGHT ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE PILOT SECURED THE RIGHT ENGINE AND ENTERED A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE TOP OF A BUS. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE DESCENT UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A LANE DIVIDER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND CAME TO A REST. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON SCENE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN ANY OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS.
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: 678 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVX Avalon CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: NUQ Moffett Field CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.