# Accident 20030901028959A: Beech B36TC, Ossian, IN, September 1, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2003, 20:02 local time
- Place: Ossian, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8672° N, 85.6886° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8672&lon=-85.6886&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8018J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8018J-2006-08-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech B36TC (registry code 1151609, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b36tc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B36TC
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520UB
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 836 total, 59 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA291) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030901028959A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AFTER OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FLIGHT SERVICE N8018J DEPARTED BOYNE CITY (N98) FOR SMITH FIELD (SMD) FORT WAYNE WITH SOUTH BEND (SBN) AS AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED 60 GALS. OF FUEL WITH A TOTAL OF 5 SOB. WEATHER REPORTS INDICATED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT CONTACTED FWA FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO LAND AND WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO RUNWAY 5 ILS APPROACH. THE PILOT BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH THE AUTOPILOT AND WAS TOO HIGH DURING THE INITIAL APPROACH, HE THEN CALLED FOR A MISSED APPROACH AND BELIEVED HE WAS GIVEN A HEADING OF 180 DEG WITH A CLIMB TO 2600 FEET. AT THAT TIME, HE FELT HE HAD ABOUT 30 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. IT WAS ON THE SECOND APPROACH THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE PILOT PUSHED THE MIXTURE TO RICH, ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND SWITCHED THE BOOST PUMP TO LOW, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER. THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT POSITION TRYING TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AT THIS MOMENT THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. DURING THE DESCENT ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT EXCEPT THE HSI AND GARMIN UNIT. THE AIRCRAFTS LEFT WING CLIPPED A UTILITY POLE AND STRUCK A COUNTY ROAD BURSTING INTO FLAME.

## 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 CHI03FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA291), Sep 2, 2003: Beech B36TC (N8018J), Uniondale, IN, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inaccurate preflight planning which resulted in an inadequate fuel supply and subsequent fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the low ceiling, dark night conditions,…

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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