# Accident 20171031018109A: Beech BE-33, Whiteville, NC, October 31, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 2017, 10:00 local time
- Place: Whiteville, NC
- Airport: Columbus County Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2639° N, 78.7269° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2639&lon=-78.7269&mi=10
- Aircraft: N293GC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N293GC-2019-05-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 35-C33 (registry code 1151408, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-c33) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-33
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-470-K
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171031018109A

## Narrative

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

APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO APPARENT FUEL STARVATION.  THE SURVIVING PASSENGER (WHO IS A QUALIFIED PILOT) STATED THAT THE INCIDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH TANKS CAUSING HIM TO LOOK AT THE FUEL SELECTOR AND LEAN DOWN, APPLYING FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE YOKE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND MORE RAPIDLY.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING APPROXIMATELY .4 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TRANSMITTER WAS INOPERATIVE CAUSING THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE TO INDICATE 3/4 AT ALL TIMES.  OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE: IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT AND IMPROPER FORWARD APPLICATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND 16 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK.

## 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 ERA18FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA012), Oct 31, 2017: Beech 35C33 (N293GC), Whiteville, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and his delayed reaction to the loss of engine power, which led to impact with…

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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