Beech D 45 accident near Ione, California, June 3, 2020
On June 3, 2020 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1955 Beech D 45, registered N341MR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Ione, California (Eagle'S Nest 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
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2020 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ione, California · Eagle'S Nest · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D 45 B, built 1955 · all D 45s on the register
- Registration
- N341MR · registry record · serial BG-65
- 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 he planned to complete a cross-country flight and had estimated a total fuel consumption of 30 gallons. During his preflight inspection, the fuel gauges showed 13 gallons in the left fuel tank and 17 gallons in the right fuel tank. The pilot visually confirmed that each tank contained fuel and then added 10 gallons of fuel. As the pilot descended through 6,500 ft mean sea level about 10 nm south of the destination airport, the engine "sputtered" and then lost all power. According to the pilot, the fuel gauges showed no fuel in the left tank and 17 gallons of fuel in the right tank. After subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, he established a glide profile and made a forced landing in a field about 1 nm south of the airport. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Both fuel tanks were void of fuel and the fuel gauges indicated no fuel in the left tank and 5 gallons in the right tank. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. He further stated that his "best conclusion is that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation."
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,954 hours in all; 466 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 3,160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,602 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2019; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B9 (piston); 1,535 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 9:25 pm
- Destination: CA20 Ione CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 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 | Record of Conversation, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | 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.