Bellefonte Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823
Friday, November 7, 2003 15:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed with 70 gallons of fuel and flew approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to his destination airport. While on an extended crosswind leg for the runway, the engine lost all power. The pilot discontinued the approach, and immediately turned toward a clearing. While gliding toward the clearing, the pilot attempted to restart the engine by verifying the mixture was rich, repositioning the fuel selector, verifying the electric fuel pump was on, and cycling the ignition key. The fuel selector was positioned to the right main fuel tank when the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted a restart with the fuel selector positioned to the right main fuel tank, and the left main fuel tank. However, the engine did not regain power. The airplane struck trees and came to rest prior to the clearing. Examination of the wreckage revealed fuel present in both main fuel tanks. A subsequent test-run of the engine was performed at a recovery facility. The engine started with no difficulty, and ran continuously at 1500 rpm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during approach for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/7/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Bellefonte
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16823
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405308N
Event Location Longitude 0774859W
Event Location Airport Bellefonte Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N96
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 220
Airport Elevation 1071
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1520 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID UNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1239
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16407
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Nov 7 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Harrisburgh, PA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9730R
NTSB Number NYC04LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model M35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-6204
Certified Max Gross Weight 3150
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 4608
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kyle J. Kerestes
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Wexford
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15090
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SHD
Departure City Shenandoah
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code N96
Destination City Bellefonte
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 28 2004 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3585
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --