Beech B-19 accident near Moses Lake, Washington, January 28, 2002
On January 28, 2002 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech B-19, registered N23849, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moses Lake, Washington. It was an instructional 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 instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot. Also, the dual student's incorrect use of the fuel selector valve. A factor was the uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2002 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B-19 · all B-19s on the register
- Registration
- N23849 · registry record · serial MB-876
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student was performing a simulated engine out procedure. The instructor reported that the student had set up to land downwind. The student was instructed to go around, however, when power was added, the engine did not respond. The instructor took control of the aircraft and landed in the same field the student had selected. The aircraft nosed over in the field and came to rest inverted. Post accident fuel system flow tests revealed that the fuel selector valve was found to be pointing almost to the off detent and did not allow flow to the fuel strainer or engine supply hose. The instructor reported that he had not checked the position of the fuel selector valve prior to the accident.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,936 hours in all; 1,607 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 8,719 as pilot in command; 3,846 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,950 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 8, 2001; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMWH Moses Lake WA at 6:20 pm
- Destination: WA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KMWH, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.