Summary
On August 28, 1994, a Cessna 320B (N9833L) was involved in an accident near Hood River, OR. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to insure that the fuel selector was in the proper position which resulted in fuel starvation.
On August 28, 1994, at 1130 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 320B, N9833L, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from the Hood River Airport, Hood River, Oregon. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injures, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was departing for Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. A VFR flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that everything was normal for engine start and run-up.
This accident is documented in NTSB report SEA94LA223. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9833L.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to insure that the fuel selector was in the proper position which resulted in fuel starvation.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 28, 1994, at 1130 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 320B, N9833L, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from the Hood River Airport, Hood River, Oregon. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injures, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was departing for Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. A VFR flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that everything was normal for engine start and run-up. But, during the takeoff ground run, the left engine momentarily experienced a partial loss of power, and then regained full power again. The pilot continued the take off, but immediately after the airplane became airborne, the left engine again experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane yawed to the left, began to lose altitude and airspeed, and then began an uncommanded roll to the left. The pilot then reduced both throttles to idle as the aircraft descended into a pear orchard, where it impacted the ground in a nose down "semi-level" attitude.
During the post crash inspection, it was found that the left fuel selector was positioned in the "off" quadrant, about half-way between the center of the quadrant and the edge of the "left main" quadrant. The right fuel selector was positioned in the "right main" quadrant.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA94LA223