Beech A23 accident near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1999
On September 12, 1999 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N3508R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Carlisle Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, resulting in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1999 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Pennsylvania · Carlisle Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N3508R · registry record · serial M-664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that after the landing, he moved the fuel selector from 'LEFT' to 'OFF'. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector observed approximately 18 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. He did not observe any fuel in the left fuel tank. According to FAA records, on April 7, 1998, a Continental IO-346A was removed from the airplane; and a Lycoming IO-360 was installed. According to an engineering report from General Aviation Technical Services, Inc., the Lycoming engine burned more fuel per hour than the Continental engine. The pilot reported 16.7 hours of total flight experience in the accident 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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 178 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1999; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WBW Wilkes-Barre PA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: N94
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,008 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from KCX, 17 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.