Beech 58TC accident near E. Farmingdale, New York, August 15, 1997
On August 15, 1997 at about 10:33 am local time, a Beech 58TC, registered N2152L, was substantially damaged in an accident near E. Farmingdale, New York (Farmingdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper starting procedure, which led to an engine fire; and his failure to follow the emergency checklist, which contributed to the level of damage that the airplane received.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1997 · about 10:33 am local time
- Place
- E. Farmingdale, New York · Farmingdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58TC · all 58TCs on the register
- Registration
- N2152L · no longer on the register · serial TK-28
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was experiencing difficulty in starting the left engine. He engaged the starter and continued priming. He then heard a backfire and observed flames under the wing. He released the starter, closed the mixtures, turned off the fuel, and exited the airplane. The fire was extinguished by airport fire fighting personnel. According to the FAA Approved Flight Manual for the Beech 58TC, priming should be accomplished in 2 to 3 second bursts, after which, the mixture control should be returned to idle cut-off. Also, according to the flight manual, the first four items on the Emergency Procedure for ENGINE FIRE - ON THE GROUND called for the mixtures to be brought to idle cut off, continue to crank the affected engine, fuel selectors off, and throttle full open.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,175 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.