Pilot Debrief

Beech A36 near Chebanse, IL — 2019-07-05

Final reportCEN19FA210
Sign in to save
Date
2019-07-05
Location
Chebanse, IL, USA
Airport
IKK
Aircraft
Beech A36
Registration
N1809S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a cross-country flight, while in cruise altitude at 3,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost power. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a muddy wheat field. Examination at the site revealed that the left and right main fuel tanks were intact; the left tank was empty and the right tank contained about 25 gallons. The wing tip tanks were breached during the accident, but burns in the field were indicative of fuel being in the wing tip tanks at the time they were breached. The fuel selector was found in the left tank position. Further examination revealed that the fuel line from the fuel selector to the engine-driven fuel pump contained no fuel. A test run of the engine revealed no anomalies. Given the absence of fuel in the left tank, the position of the fuel selector at the accident site, and the engine's nominal performance during a postaccident test run, it is likely that the engine consumed all of the available fuel in the left fuel tank, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not activate wing tip fuel tank transfer pumps despite low fuel in main tank.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 25 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents25

Related mishaps