Beech E35 accident near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1995
On July 16, 1995 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Beech E35, registered N456F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pottsville, Pennsylvania (Joe Zerbey airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper installation of a fuel line fitting by the pilot/owner which resulted in fuel blockage and subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1995 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pottsville, Pennsylvania · Joe Zerbey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E35 · all E35s on the register
- Registration
- N456F · registry record · serial D-3860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departure, at approximately 100-200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The airplane descended and struck trees approximately 1000 yards from the departure end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was fuel in the fuel tanks. No oil leaks or obvious discrepancies were observed. An examination of the engine revealed a blockage in the fuel line from the firewall to the inlet side of the engine-driven fuel pump. The blockage appeared to be rubber shavings from the inside of the fuel hose, caused by improper installation of the fittings on the end of the hose. The pilot/owner had installed the fittings.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZER
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,594 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from RDG, 40 miles away
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.