Richmond - Norfolk

The aircraft crashed during an ILS approach following an engine power loss while on an air taxi freight flight. The pilot related that at about 550 feet on the approach to runway 23 the left engine fuel pressure warning light illuminated and the left engine lost power. The pilot opened the crossfeed valve and shortly the right fuel pressure warning light illuminated followed by a loss of power on the right engine. Investigation revealed that there is one fuel gauge for the tank system and a selector switch must be activated to determine the fuel quantity in any desired tank. The pilot's action in selecting crossfeed and not closing the fuel shut off valve allowed fuel to be diverted from the operative right engine resulting in a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Flight / Schedule

Richmond - Norfolk

Aircraft

Beechcraft D18

Registration

N8517Z

MSN

A-352

Year of Manufacture

1947

Date

December 13, 1984 at 07:51 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Norfolk-Intl Virginia

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

36.8947°, -76.2023°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On December 13, 1984 at 07:51 AM, Richmond - Norfolk experienced a crash involving Beechcraft D18, operated by Transtar Aviation, with the event recorded near Norfolk-Intl Virginia.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft crashed during an ILS approach following an engine power loss while on an air taxi freight flight. The pilot related that at about 550 feet on the approach to runway 23 the left engine fuel pressure warning light illuminated and the left engine lost power. The pilot opened the crossfeed valve and shortly the right fuel pressure warning light illuminated followed by a loss of power on the right engine. Investigation revealed that there is one fuel gauge for the tank system and a selector switch must be activated to determine the fuel quantity in any desired tank. The pilot's action in selecting crossfeed and not closing the fuel shut off valve allowed fuel to be diverted from the operative right engine resulting in a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration N8517Z, MSN A-352, year of manufacture 1947.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.8947°, -76.2023°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The aircraft crashed during an ILS approach following an engine power loss while on an air taxi freight flight. The pilot related that at about 550 feet on the approach to runway 23 the left engine fuel pressure warning light illuminated and the left engine lost power. The pilot opened the crossfeed valve and shortly the right fuel pressure warning light illuminated followed by a loss of power on the right engine. Investigation revealed that there is one fuel gauge for the tank system and a selector switch must be activated to determine the fuel quantity in any desired tank. The pilot's action in selecting crossfeed and not closing the fuel shut off valve allowed fuel to be diverted from the operative right engine resulting in a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 1

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Richmond - Norfolk

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Beechcraft D18

Registration

N8517Z

MSN

A-352

Year of Manufacture

1947

Similar Plane Crashes

May 2, 1918 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.

June 19, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.

November 9, 1918 at 12:00 AM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.

November 12, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

November 14, 1918 at 12:00 AM

U.S. Air Mail Service

De Havilland DH.4

Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.

November 20, 1918 at 12:00 PM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.