# Accident 19970726019699A: Beech D50A, Mitchell, NE, July 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 1997, 17:30 local time
- Place: Mitchell, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9400° N, 103.8002° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9400&lon=-103.8002&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3BE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3BE-1997-11-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D50A (registry code 1152516, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D50A
- Reported engine: LYC GO480G2D6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA226) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970726019699A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER AND PILOT UNABLE TO FEATHER ENGINE, MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PASTURE. (.4)AFTER PERFORMING MAINTENANCE WORK ON THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT HAD THE AIRCRAFT FUELED.  25 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE PUT INTO EACH OUTBOARD AUXILIARY TANK.  THE FUELER REPORTED THAT THE PILOT REMOVED THE OUTBOARD FUEL CAPS AND HE FILLED THOSE TANKS; THE PILOT THEN REPLACED THE FUEL CAPS AFTER FUELING WAS COMPLETED.  THE PILOT STATED HE 'FAILED TO RECHECK FUELING AND INDIVIDUAL TANKS.'  THE MAIN TANKS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE NACELLE WERE NOT FILLED.  THE PILOT DID A RUN UP AND PARTIAL POWER TAXI, RETURNED, CHECKED THE ENGINES FOR LEAKS, AND DEPARTED.  AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 1500' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND 10 MINUTES EN ROUTE, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE AUXILIARY TANK,  THE ENGINE GAINED POWER BUT THEN QUIT.  THE PILOT PREPARED FOR LANDING AND LANDED IN A ROUGH FIELD.  THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND NOSE GEAR CAME OFF AND THE FUSELAGE WRINKLED BEHIND THE COCKPIT.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE NEXT DAY THAT HE CHECKED THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND FOUND IT TO BE 'BONE DRY.'                                                                                                (-23) THE PILOT/MECHANIC WAS FERRYING THE AIRPLANE FROM TORRINGTON, WYOMING, WHERE IT HAD BEEN SETTING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, TO SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA. FIFTY GALLONS OF FUEL WAS PUT IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS. THE PILOT DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL SELECTORS ON THE MAIN TANKS.  WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER.  UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD.  THE PILOT STATED WHEN HE CHECKED THE LEFT MAIN TANK IT WAS "BONE DRY".

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA226), Jul 26, 1997: Beech D50A (N3BE), Mitchell, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper fuel selector position and the fuel starvation. Factors contributing to the accident were: the pilot's inattentiveness of the refueling, inadequate aircraft preflight, and the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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