Beech E-55 accident near Leesburg, Virginia, April 5, 1993
On April 5, 1993, a Beech E-55, registered N777EV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg Muni airport). 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
IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTORS, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1993
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-55 · all E-55s on the register
- Registration
- N777EV · registry record · serial TE-871
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT REFUELED THE MAIN TANKS, BUT DID NOT REFUEL THE AUXILIARY TANKS. WHILE APPROACHING HER DESTINATION AIRPORT AND USING THE AUXILIARY TANKS, SHE EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE POWER LOSS. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINES RESTARTED. DURING AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SMALL BUILDING AND A SECURITY FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE AUXILIARY TANKS WERE INTACT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE AND THAT THEY WERE EMPTY. THE RIGHT MAIN TANK HAD 20 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING; THE LEFT MAIN HAD BEEN RUPTURED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WAS EMPTY. FUEL WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND AROUND THE AIRPLANE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 905 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 818 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,111 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1992; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 11:40 pm
- Destination: JYO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N777EV 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.