Pilot Debrief

BEECH B95 near Las Vegas, NV — 2017-11-03

Final reportWPR18LA023
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Date
2017-11-03
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Airport
VGT
Aircraft
BEECH B95
Registration
N9628R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of power to both engines, and a subsequent forced landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and commercial pilot receiving instruction departed on a local instructional flight in the twin-engine airplane. The pilot receiving instruction indicated that each main fuel tank indicated about one-quarter full before departure, and the instructor stated to him that they could "run on the auxiliary tanks." The amount of fuel in the auxiliary tanks could not be recalled. After completing air work, the pilots were conducting an instrument approach to the departure airport when the left engine began to lose power. They continued the approach and shortly thereafter, the right engine also lost power. The instructor performed a forced landing to a golf course fairway, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and came to rest in a small lake. Examination of the airplane revealed that all of the fuel tanks were absent of fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. Examination of the engines revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the available information, it is likely that the pilots departed with an inadequate amount of fuel onboard, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of power to both engines.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Instructor should have verified fuel levels before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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