Beech E17L accident near Discovery Bay, Washington, January 24, 2017
On January 24, 2017 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1937 Beech E17L, registered N41663, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Discovery Bay, Washington (Jefferson County Intl 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
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2017 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Discovery Bay, Washington · Jefferson County Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E17L L, built 1937 · all E17Ls on the register
- Registration
- N41663 · registry record · serial 196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after departure for the local flight, he maneuvered the airplane along the shoreline, and the airplane reached about 900 ft above ground level. The fuel pressure then dropped to zero, and the low-pressure light illuminated. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel pump; however, the pressure remained at zero. The pilot attempted to restart the engine and switched tanks again, to no avail. He ditched the airplane in the bay, and the airplane became submerged after impact. After the airplane was recovered, the pilot removed the top wings, which revealed water in the fuel tanks. Due to the submersion of the airplane, it could not be determined if water was in the fuel tanks before the accident, and the fuel system could not be examined. The pilot also noticed that the ground wire on the electric pump was loose; however, it could not be determined if the loose wire was a result of impact. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 25, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,355 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2016; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,391 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755B2 (piston); 916 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S9 Port Townsend WA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 0S9 Port Townsend WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from KNRA, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 23, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Records of Conversations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.