Beech BE-56TC accident near Bethany, West Virginia, July 9, 2003
On July 9, 2003 at about 5:13 pm local time, a Beech BE-56TC, registered N156DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethany, West Virginia (Wheeling Ohio County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of power in the right engine for undetermined reasons. A factor was a partial loss of power in the left engine due to a loose oil line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2003 · about 5:13 pm local time
- Place
- Bethany, West Virginia · Wheeling Ohio County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-56TC
- Registration
- N156DK · no longer on the register · serial TG21
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot completely fueled the airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, while climbing through 16,000 feet msl, to reach a cruising altitude of 23,000 feet, the left manifold pressure gauge began to fluctuate. The pilot then noticed oil streaking from the left engine cowling, and shut down the left engine. The pilot notified ATC and began to fly back toward the departure airport; however, about 1 minute 40 seconds after securing the left engine, the right engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he had not touched the right fuel selector prior to the loss of power in the right engine. The pilot attempted to restart the right engine using a checklist and cross-feeding the right engine to the left main fuel tank, but the right engine did not restart. With no success to restart the right engine, the pilot attempted to restart the left engine, but was unable to do so. During the restart attempts, the airplane's engine driven vacuum instruments failed, which included the attitude indicator. The ATC controller was providing the pilot vectors toward an ILS approach to a suitable alternate airport. Due to instrument meteorological conditions between 1,200 feet and 14,500 feet, the controller had to provide no-gyro turns to the pilot in an attempt to maintain a safe attitude. The pilot was unable to glide to the runway, and performed a forced landing to a field about 3 miles south of the alternate airport. Examination of the left engine revealed that the oil line was found separated from the number two cylinder, but the threads remained intact. The number six cylinder exhibited damage consistent with oil starvation. However, no discrepancies were noted with the right engine.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,531 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 29, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,189 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2003; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-541 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PKB Parkersburg WV at 4:38 pm
- Destination: ART Watertown NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from HLG, 3 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.