Casualties unknown

1982-08-21: Beech C24R (N18906) — Wntell Associates — Palisade, CO

Palisade, CO, US

On August 21, 1982, a Beech C24R (registration N18906) operated by Wntell Associates was involved in an aviation accident near Palisade, CO. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported fuel starvation after switching tanks and discovering a missing fuel cap. The aircraft landed on I-70, contacting a guard rail while avoiding traffic.

Flight Details

According to the pilot, the flight departed from Arapahoe Airport with the fuel tanks half full due to passenger load considerations. As the aircraft neared its destination, approximately 45 miles out, the pilot switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank.

Fuel Management

A few minutes after switching to the left tank, the engine began to lose power. The pilot immediately switched back to the right tank. At that moment, he noticed that the fuel cap for the left wing fuel tank was missing. The engine subsequently failed due to fuel exhaustion.

Emergency Landing

With the engine no longer running, the pilot initiated an emergency landing on Interstate 70. During the landing rollout, he swerved to avoid oncoming highway traffic. The aircraft then contacted a guard rail before coming to rest.

Probable Cause

No probable cause was stated in the source.

Safety Information

(This section intentionally omitted as the source provides no additional analysis or recommendations.)

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X03191. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.