Beech 58 accident near Palo Alto, California, September 13, 2021
On September 13, 2021 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1982 Beech 58, registered N162DF, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fuelers addition of the incorrect fuel to the fuel tanks which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2021 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 P, built 1982 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N162DF · registry record · serial TJ-403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, about 500 ft above the ground, both engines lost power. A forced landing was subsequently initiated to an open area. During the landing, the left wing collided with a wooden post and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preacccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was fueled before the flight. The fueler reported that he incorrectly fueled the airplane with Jet A fuel instead of Avgas. He added that he did not notice the “Avgas only” label adjacent to the fuel port, and that he did not follow the company’s fueling checklist while fueling the accident airplane.
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 related during initial climb
- Wrong fuel during prior to flight defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid type
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 6,500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 7, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 10, 2021; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continetal TSIO520WB (piston); 5,842 hours total
- Engine 2: Continetal TSIO520WB (piston); 5,842 hours total
- Operator: Faford Aviation Leasing CO
The flight
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from KPAO, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPAO 132047Z 33010KT 10SM SKC 24/15 A2987
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA342.