# Accident 20070406005599A: Beech D50E, Elk Mont, AL, April 6, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 2007, 15:40 local time
- Place: Elk Mont, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6522° N, 86.9406° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6522&lon=-86.9406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N107WB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107WB-2017-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D50E (registry code 1152522, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming GO-480 series (registry code 41527, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D50E
- Reported engine: LYC GO480*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,336 total, 227 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL07CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070406005599A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT ONE HALF HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT FROM AUGUSTA, GA TO MEMPHIS, TN, HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE FROM THE MAIN TANKS TO THE AUXILIARY TANKS ON BOTH ENGINES. ONE HOUR LATER THE RIGHT ENGINE RAN OUT OF GAS AND QUIT. HE SWITCHED BOTH FUEL SELECTOR VALVES BACK TO THE MAIN TANKS AND TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMPS. HE IMMEDIATELY ASKED ATC FOR AL HEADING TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, THEN THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO START BOTH ENGINES, BUT THEY FAILED TO START. HE FEATHERED BOTH PROPS, AND WITH LANDING GEAR RETRACTED HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING WHEELS UP LANDING. THERE WERE FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE AND THEY RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE RIGHT ENGINE AND WING FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE RIGHT INBOARD FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY BUT THE OTHER THREE TANKS WERE FULL. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE SIGN OR SMELL OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE LANDING GEARS WERE DAMAGED, THE FUSELAGE AND BELLY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.

## 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 ATL07CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA068), Apr 6, 2007: Beech D50E (N107WB), Decatur, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in failure of both engines due to fuel starvation.

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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