2 fatalities

1999-01-30: Rockwell Aero Commander 560 (N919VC) — Bryant Monturiol — Belleview, United States of America

Belleview, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 30, 1999, a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 (registration N919VC) operated by Bryant Monturiol was involved in an aviation accident near Belleview, United States of America during landing or approach. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by insufficient fuel planning which resulted in the engines running out of fuel during flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781204583Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced a total loss of power to both engines following an RPM reduction, resulting in a crash into trees and a house.

What happened

During the initial climb phase, after reaching an altitude of 1500 feet, the pilot decreased the engine RPM to 3000. Shortly after this adjustment, the left engine began to sputter. In an attempt to regain power, the pilot activated the fuel boost pump for the left engine; however, this action was followed by a similar loss of power in the right engine. The pilot then engaged the right engine's boost pump, but efforts to stabilize the engines were unsuccessful.

As the aircraft approached an intended emergency landing site, it experienced significant yawing motions due to the intermittent power fluctuations between the two engines. The aircraft eventually struck the tops of several trees before ultimately colliding with a single-family residence located near a lake. There were 0 fatalities and no specific injury counts were reported in the provided text.

Findings

Post-accident inspections of the engine assemblies and the airframe did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or component failures. While the pilot believed there were approximately 50 gallons of fuel on board at departure, investigators recovered only about 2.5 pints of fuel during the examination of the fuel system. The investigation concluded that inadequate preflight fuel planning led to fuel exhaustion.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by insufficient fuel planning which resulted in the engines running out of fuel during flight.