Probable cause
The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, he was on a local flight at an altitude of 1,000 ft when he noticed the engine starting to lose power. The pilot said he switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not regained. The pilot conducted an emergency landing on a road and the airplane collided with a bus and then a pole. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were intact, and that the left fuel only contained a residual amount of fuel, while about 10 gallons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank. An engine test run was then attempted at the accident site, and the engine ran normally using the right fuel tank but did not run consistently with the left fuel tank selected. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot mismanaged the airplane’s fuel supply and starved the engine of fuel, which resulted in the total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA23LA119 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 28, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Miami, Florida
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech A23
- N-number
- N16TH
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1966
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.