Beech C-99 accident near Seattle, Washington, February 25, 1993
On February 25, 1993, a Beech C-99, registered N63978, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was a positioning 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 IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT OF THE AERONCA. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PILOT OF THE AERONCA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1993
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-99 · all C-99s on the register
- Registration
- N63978 · registry record · serial U-171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, HAVING JUST LANDED HIS AERONCA ON RUNWAY 31L, EXITED AT THE FIRST TAXIWAY AND WAS CLEARED BY GROUND CONTROL TO HIS DESTINATION ON THE AIRPORT. NO REQUEST BY THE AERONCA PILOT WAS MADE AS HE APPROACHED AND PASSED BEHIND THE BEECH C-99 WHICH WAS EXECUTING A RUNUP AT A HOLD SHORT. AS THE AERONCA PASSED BEHIND THE BEECH IT SPUN AROUND AND ITS ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT OF THE AERONCA THEN RADIOED GROUND CONTROL THAT HE HAD BEEN SPUN AROUND AND GROUND CONTROL REQUESTED THE BEECH TO 'COME TO IDLE' WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PILOT OF THE AERONCA THEN EXITED HIS AIRCRAFT TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTED, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TAXIING WITHOUT ANY OCCUPANTS AS THE PILOT HAD LEFT THE THROTTLE IN A POSITION GREATER THAN IDLE. THE AERONCA SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER OF THE BEECH.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,830 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,730 as pilot in command; 1,280 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 11,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-36 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflight, INC.
The flight
- Destination: 75S Burlington WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.