On October 22, 1991, a Beech A23 (registration N1425L) operated by Francisco P. Jaquez was involved in an aviation accident near Fairfield, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel quantity, resulting in an engine shutdown due to fuel starvation caused by a ruptured wing tank. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot experienced an engine failure while on final approach for runway 22, resulting in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Post-accident inspection found one wing tank contained fuel while the other was ruptured.
What happened
The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules and was established on final approach to runway 22 when the engine abruptly ceased producing power. With no immediate suitable landing area available, the pilot executed a forced landing on terrain that was not designed for aircraft operations.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the airframe and propulsion system was conducted to determine the cause of the in-flight shutdown. Investigators inspected both wing fuel tanks and found that one tank still contained several gallons of usable fuel. The opposite wing tank, however, had sustained a rupture, making it impossible to accurately quantify the remaining fuel volume within that compartment.
Findings
The engine itself was examined thoroughly and showed no mechanical discrepancies or signs of internal failure that would explain the loss of power. The primary contributing factor appears to be related to the fuel system integrity. Fuel exhaustion is indicated by the rupture in one tank and the subsequent inability to supply adequate fuel to the engine, despite residual fuel remaining in the other tank.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel quantity, resulting in an engine shutdown due to fuel starvation caused by a ruptured wing tank.