Beech C-23 accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1990
On March 14, 1990 at about 5:25 am local time, a Beech C-23, registered N6513Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS ON BOARD FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, RESULTING IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DIVERT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1990 · about 5:25 am local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N6513Z · registry record · serial M-2377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED AT NIGHT WITH APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE PICKED UP A CLEARANCE ENROUTE, MADE A MISSED APPROACH DUE TO WEATHER, AND AFTER BEING AIRBORNE FOR 1 HR, 46 MIN, DECLARED A FUEL EMERGENCY. HE WAS VECTORED TO THE ILS AT A VFR AIRPORT, HOWEVER HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A WOODED AREA, APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THE FUEL TANKS EMPTY AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 462 as pilot in command; 462 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ronson Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 18N York PA at 3:20 am
- Destination: TTN Trenton NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.