Beech F33A accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, April 2, 1998
On April 2, 1998 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered DECTB, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (St. Lucie International 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 due to fuel leakage at the fuel control, resulting in a forced landing, and subsequent impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1998 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · St. Lucie International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- DECTB · no longer on the register · serial 375
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight had departed runway 14, and had reached an altitude of about 200 feet, when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to make a forced landing straight ahead into trees. After impact, the pilot closed off the fuel valve. Examination of the wreckage after the accident revealed that the fuel tanks had fuel. The pilot said the fuel selector was on the left tank when the loss of power occurred. Observation of the engine at the crash site did not reveal any obvious discrepancies. The engine was removed from the airframe and examined at the NTSB's request, and under the supervision of the FAA, on June 24, 1998. The engine examination revealed that the fuel control system exhibited fluid leakage at the fuel pump and throttle shaft. Detailed examination of the fuel pump showed that the pump leaked fluid at the rear high speed adjusting needle at the seal to the pump body. There was no evidence of impact damage observed on the fuel pump. In addition, the throttle/metering unit leaked fluid at the throttle shaft into the metering unit. The leak at the throttle shaft was severe enough that no flow test was possible. The throttle arm displayed impact damage. The throttle shaft was removed from the unit, and the 'O' ring seal was found flat from wear. The 'O' ring was replaced and the leakage stopped. The unit was then flow tested to manufacturer's standards. No other discrepancies were found during the engine examination
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPR at 7:00 pm
- Destination: F45 Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,756 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:04 pm from FPR, 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.