NTSB CITES LACK OF ADEQUATE FUEL AS CAUSE OF EXECUTIVE AIRLINES JETSTREAM CRASH IN BEAR CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA

The Safety Board’s final accident report into the crash cited the flight crew’s failure to ensure an adequate fuel supply for the flight, which led to the stoppage of the right engine due to fuel starvation and the intermittent stoppage of the left engine. The report also noted as a contributing factor the flight crew’s failure to monitor the airplane’s fuel state.

On the day of the accident the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Executive Airlines, flew from Farmingdale, New York to Atlantic City, New Jersey and then onto Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Investigators believe that the flight crew intended to add a total of 180 gallons of fuel, 90 gallons a side, to the airplane while at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. However, fuel receipts indicate that a miscommunication between the pilots and the fueler resulted in only a total of 90 gallons of fuel being added. Observations made at the accident site were consistent with only a small amount of fuel being on board at the time of the crash.

The entire report is available on the NTSB website. The accident number is DCA00MA052.

Media Contact: Lauren Peduzzi  (202) 314-6100