# NTSB ANC92LA114: Beech 55-95B55B, N7041M, Delta Junction, AK, July 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1992, 20:13 local (Jul 29, 1992, 04:13 UTC)
- Place: Delta Junction, AK
- Coordinates: 63.699222, -144.889877 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6992&lon=-144.8899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA114
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA114

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION OF BOTH ENGINES AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY NOT GETTING MORE FUEL OR CANCELLING THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES (THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL) WHEN HE OPERATED THE ENGINES FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WHILE IN A DESCENT, AND THEN FAILED TO USE THE FUEL BOOST PUMPS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - 2 engines - failure,total
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## Analysis

DURING PREFLIGHT REFUELING, THE FUEL SYSTEM STOPPED PUMPING FUEL, SO THE PILOT DID NOT GET AS MUCH FUEL AS HE HAD INTENDED BEFORE BEGINNING THE LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT.  THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY OPERATED THE ENGINES FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS, WHILE IN A DESCENT, UNTIL THEY WERE EMPTY, AT WHICH TIME BOTH ENGINES QUIT SIMULTANEOUSLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET.  HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINES, AND SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA.  THE PILOT SAID THAT HIS INSTRUCTOR HAD IMPLIED THAT RUNNING THE AUXILIARY TANKS DRY WAS A SAFE PROCEDURE.  HE ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD NOT TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMPS WHILE TRYING TO RESTART THE ENGINES, AS SPECIFIED IN AN ADDENDUM TO THE AFM.  HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT ADDENDUM UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 28 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE MAIN FUEL TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7041M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7041M-1993-08-16), registration cancelled 1993-08-16, S/N TF30 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 55-95B55B
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TF-30
- Airframe hours: 11890
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L(9) 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eielson Afb Aero Club
- Registered owner: U. S. Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1992, 70 hours before
- Departed: EIL, EIELSON AFB, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 892 total, 18 in this make and model, 324 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIG, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920728027919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920728027919A), Jul 28, 1992: Beech 95B55, Delta Junction, AK, Substantial damage. Both engines quit on running aux tanks dry. Failed use boost pumps to start. Crashed into trees. AFM says use pumps

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.

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