Cessna T337E accident near Columbus, Ohio, August 14, 2000
On August 14, 2000 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna T337E, registered N86485, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Bolton Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting from his improper go-around procedures following a rear engine failure. A factor was the pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in the rear engine failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2000 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Bolton Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337E · all T337Es on the register
- Registration
- N86485 · no longer on the register · serial 33701205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 'push-pull's' rear engine failed during a go-around, and the propeller was feathered. The pilot left the gear down and the flaps extended 1/3. He heard the stall warning several times, and because the airplane wasn't climbing, he turned it to the left to avoid trees. The airplane stalled, then hit the ground hard on its main landing gear, and flipped over. After the accident, the fuel selectors were turned 'off' by the pilot; however, he later stated that they had both been on 'main' during the flight, and that the tanks had been topped off prior to departure. Flight duration was about 1 hour, 35 minutes. Examination revealed that all engine controls were forward, the right wing fuel tanks were almost full, and the left wing fuel tanks were empty. There was no evidence of leakage from the left fuel tanks. The right wing fuel tanks normally provided fuel to the rear engine; however, in a cross-feed situation, the left tanks could have provided the fuel. If single-side fuel feed operations had been initiated with nearly full tanks, the side not being used would have been continuously refilling. There was no auto-feather installed. According to the pilot's handbook, continued take-off, with an engine out, included throttles and propellers full forward, the inoperative engine feathered immediately, the flaps retracted, and the landing gear retracted after immediate obstacles were cleared. The pilot had 224 hours of flight time, and 96 hours in make and model, with 23 hours in the preceding 90 days.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 4,440 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TZR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,199 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from TZR
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.