Carlisle Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Sunday, September 12, 1999 17:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on final approach, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The pilot stated that after the landing, he moved the fuel selector from 'LEFT' to 'OFF'. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector observed approximately 18 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. He did not observe any fuel in the left fuel tank. According to FAA records, on April 7, 1998, a Continental IO-346A was removed from the airplane; and a Lycoming IO-360 was installed. According to an engineering report from General Aviation Technical Services, Inc., the Lycoming engine burned more fuel per hour than the Continental engine. The pilot reported 16.7 hours of total flight experience in the accident airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper fuel management, resulting in fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/12/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CARLISLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17013
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CARLISLE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N94
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 100
Airport Elevation 510
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID KCX
Elevation of weather observation facility 347
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 500
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 12 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3508R
NTSB Number NYC99LA223
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A23
Aircraft Series Identifier A23
Aircraft Serial Number M-664
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRYAN GEMBUSIA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7 WOODVIEW DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MT HOLLY SPRING
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17065
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSEPH T. GEMBUSIA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3510 RAINTREE LANE
Operator City MECHANICSBURG
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17055
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WBW
Departure City WILKES-BARRE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code N94
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 4008
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --