Beech B23 accident near Jean, Nevada, June 18, 2011
On June 18, 2011 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N6991Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Jean, Nevada. It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s improper in-flight fuel management when he did not switch to the fullest fuel tank when the engine began to lose power, which resulted in fuel starvation and the complete loss of engine power during maneuvering flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of knowledge of the engine's fuel consumption rate and the inaccurate fuel flow calculations that led to an inaccurate fuel quantity prior to takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2011 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N6991Q · no longer on the register · serial M-1098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, while returning to his home base, he established the airplane in a slow flight configuration. About five minutes later, while he was still performing the slow flight maneuver, the engine began to run rough. The pilot then noticed that the left fuel gauge was indicating less than 1/4 full, and the right tank gauge was indicating over 1/2 full; the engine then lost power. Because he was about 500 feet above the ground when the engine lost power, he did not attempt to restart the engine, nor did he switch the fuel selector to the right tank. The pilot attempted to stretch the glide to the lakebed, but he was unable to do so, and the airplane touched down in an area of soft sand and sagebrush. A postaccident examination of the airplane determined that the left fuel tank was empty, and an undetermined amount of fuel was in the right tank. The pilot miscalculated the fuel burn and relied on his inaccurate fuel gauges to determine the pretakeoff fuel quantity.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Student pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Desert Oasis Veterinary Enterprises LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KHND Henderson NV at 2:45 pm
- Destination: KHND Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.