Beech B-60 accident near Springfield, MO
On July 20, 1997, a Beech B-60 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Springfield, MO. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 20, 1997
- Place
- Springfield, MO
- Aircraft
- Beech B-60 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.210°N, 93.350°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08310
NTSB summary
History of Flight On July 20, 1997, at 1630 central daylight time (All times CDT), a Beech B-60, N3359P, was destroyed when it impacted terrain two miles northeast of the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport, Springfield, Missouri. The pilot reported that he was having engine problems and he attempted to return to the airport. The airline transport pilot, a pilot rated passenger, and two passengers received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport en route to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane had departed the Spirit of St. Louis Airport about 0930 and landed at the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport about 1020. The pilot did not request aircraft servicing or fuel. Later that day the pilot and passengers returned and prepared for departure. An aircraft service lineman at the Springfield/Branson Airport reported that the pilot in the left seat "could have been heavy set" and was wearing a dark tee shirt. The autopsy indicated that the pilot was wearing a knit navy blue and green shirt and weighed over 250 pounds. At 1610, the pilot called the ground controller and obtained taxi instructions for a VFR flight back to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The pilot received taxi instructions for a runway 22 takeoff. At 1615, the airplane departed and turned on course to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Radar data indicated that the airplane departed to the northeast after takeoff. The first radar "hit" was at 1619:58
Probable cause
The pilot's fuel mismanagement and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in fuel exhaustion followed by the loss of power in one engine and the loss of aircraft control. Contributing was the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft, the pilot's failure to feather the propeller of the non-operating engine, and his extension of the landing gear.
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Browse: Missouri · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
