Ryan 260-B accident near Barre, Massachusetts, November 20, 1991
On November 20, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Ryan 260-B, registered N5321K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barre, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LEAKING FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barre, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan 260-B
- Registration
- N5321K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-2221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WHILE EN ROUTE. HIS ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW HIM TO RESTART THE ENGINE OR PICK A LANDING AREA INTO THE WIND. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHILE LANDING WITH A STRONG CROSSWIND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FAA SHOWED THE FUSELAGE TANK EMPTY AND USABLE FUEL IN BOTH WING TANKS. THE SPARK PLUGS INDICATED EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND A LEAN MIXTURE. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL LEAK. THE PILOT DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT TANK HE WAS SELECTED WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE FAA STATED THAT BASED ON THE LEAKY VALVE, THE CAPACITY OF THE FUSELAGE TANK, AND THE LENGTH OF THE FLIGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE THE PILOT WAS SELECTED TO THE FUSELAGE TANK AND EXPERIENCED FUEL STARVATION.
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
- Flight time: 648 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 648 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 63B Limington ME at 7:30 pm
- Destination: OXC Oxford CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.