Fincastle Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fincastle, Virginia 24090
Friday, November 19, 1999 13:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing simulated engine failures near a private airport. About 1,000 feet above the runway, they attempted a go-around. The engine lost all power, and the flight instructor made a forced landing to the airport. He stated that the fuel selector was in the 'LEFT' position when the power loss occurred. He added that the electric fuel pump was on, but it did not effect the low fuel pressure indication. He stated he could not remember if he had time to move the fuel selector to 'RIGHT'. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left fuel selector stop was not in a proper position, and its three mounting screws were loose. The stop prevented the fuel selector from entering the 'LEFT' detent. During a test run of the engine, the engine lost all power when the fuel selector was moved less than 1/4 inch from the 'LEFT' detent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The restricted movement of the fuel selector and the pilot-in-command's failure to verify the fuel selector was in a proper position.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/19/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FINCASTLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24090
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FINCASTLE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VA83
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1140
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1354 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID ROA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1176
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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) 1104
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 19 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5203M
NTSB Number NYC00LA037
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 C23
Aircraft Series Identifier C23
Aircraft Serial Number M-2003
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Oct 15 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2616
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLIGHT SCHOOL PLANES
Aircraft Owner Street Address HANGAR 3, WOODCRUM FIELD
Aircraft Owner City ROANOKE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24012
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LC'S FLYING SERVICE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ROA
Departure City ROANOKE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1255
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 3039
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --