20110725018499A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech A36 · Williston, ND · July 25, 2011

Date: July 25, 2011 · 20:49 local
Place: Williston, ND
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N41MK
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11FA508
Reported as: Beech A36
Reported engine: Continental IO-550-B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,708 total385 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N41MKRegistration cancelled Jun 22, 2017 · Beech A36S/N E-662 · Built 1975 Airframe modelBeech A36 Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 25, 2011, at 2036 CDT, Beech A36, N41MK was substantially damaged while attempting to make a forced landing near Williston, ND. The pilot was fatally injured and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization. The flight was conducted in VFR conditions and departed Williston, ND. (Isn) for a local photo flight. The pax reported the aircraft lost power and the pilot tried to correct while looking for a place to land. The pilot stated this is bad and told the pax to hang on. Witnesses at a local oil drilling site observed the aircraft going over head at a low altitude in level flight "like a crop duster". They saw debris fly and went to the scene and assisted the pax. The pax was able to call 911 for help. Investigation found approximately 21 gals of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank (which was seleted) the right tank was ruptured but first responders tried to stop the fuel leak with towels. The engine was shipped to the manufacturer for examination.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 25, 2011, AT 2036 CDT, BEECH A36, N41MK WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING NEAR WILLISTON, ND. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE SOLE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VFR CONDITIONS AND DEPARTED WILLISTON, ND. (ISN) FOR A LOCAL PHOTO FLIGHT. THE PAX REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND THE PILOT TRIED TO CORRECT WHILE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. THE PILOT STATED THIS IS BAD AND TOLD THE PAX TO HANG ON. WITNESSES AT A LOCAL OIL DRILLING SITE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT GOING OVER HEAD AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN LEVEL FLIGHT "LIKE A CROP DUSTER". THEY SAW DEBRIS FLY AND WENT TO THE SCENE AND ASSISTED THE PAX. THE PAX WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 FOR HELP. INVESTIGATION FOUND APPROXIMATELY 21 GALS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK (WHICH WAS SELETED) THE RIGHT TANK WAS RUPTURED BUT FIRST RESPONDERS TRIED TO STOP THE FUEL LEAK WITH TOWELS. THE ENGINE WAS SHIPPED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR EXAMINATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN11FA508Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWilliston, NDThe pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering at a low altitude.Jul 26, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N41MK · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19820125001719ILevel Off Touchdown · Capitan, NMZa after takeoff pilot returned to retrieve forgotten articles, forgot to lower the gear.Jan 25, 1982 · Minor damage