Cessna 337 accident near Bethel, New York, March 10, 1989
On March 10, 1989 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 337, registered N2265X, was destroyed in an accident near Bethel, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT CONCERNING HIS FUEL MANAGEMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE FALSE INDICATION FROM THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE(S), DARK NIGHT, AND TREES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1989 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Bethel, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337 · all 337s on the register
- Registration
- N2265X · no longer on the register · serial 337-0165
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA TO NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND BOTH ENGINES STOPPED RUNNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES AS THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT. HE RPRTED THAT WHEN THE ENGINES STOPPED RUNNING, THE FUEL GAGES SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT STILL HAD FUEL REMAINING.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 875 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command; 370 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anoka MN at 7:40 pm
- Destination: SWF Newburgh NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.