Ryan ST3KR accident near Bealeton, Virginia, September 19, 2004
On September 19, 2004 at about 8:48 pm local time, a Ryan ST3KR, registered N57015, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bealeton, Virginia. 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
The improper installation of fuel lines by maintenance personnel resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2004 · about 8:48 pm local time
- Place
- Bealeton, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3KR
- Registration
- N57015 · registry record · serial 2042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot preflighted the airplane, noting there was approximately 12 gallons of fuel onboard. He then departed, and proceeded to a local "flying circus," which was about 5 minutes away. He did a few aerobatic maneuvers, and landed at the circus. The pilot flew in the opening and closing ceremonies before departing on the accident flight. He started the engine, noted approximately 5 gallons of fuel remaining, and then departed with the fuel selector set to "RESERVE." Once airborne and passing approximately 200 to 300 feet, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot identified a golf course and maneuvered to land. The airplane touched down, encountered a pond, and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel lines to the fuel selector were reversed, making 3 gallons of normally useable fuel unusable. The pilot purchased the airplane in 1986, had it rebuilt, which was completed in 2000, and then flew it 100 to 150 hours without a problem. The accident flight was the first time the pilot had operated the airplane with less than 5 gallons of fuel onboard.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,871.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2003; 18.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,845 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ranger L-440-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3VA3 Bealeton VA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: W66 Warrenton VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from HEF, 12 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.
Other NTSB records under N57015 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.