# NTSB ATL01LA038: Beech 55, N8472N, Lake Wales, FL, March 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 29.16974, -81.140014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1697&lon=-81.1400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the descent and before landing checklist that resulted in fuel starvation to both engines and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - all engines - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis While on final approach to land on runway 6, 100 feet above the ground and 1/4 mile from touchdown, both engines lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a pasture. During the forced landing, the main landing gear was torn from the airframe, and the airplane sustained major structural damage. Examination revealed the airplane's engines failed due to fuel starvation. The pilot did not report any component failure before his forced landing in the field. He had flown only approximately three hours before experiencing a loss of power on both engines. He used the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tanks en route to the destination airport and switched the fuel selectors to the main tanks on final approach. Both the descent and before landing checklists require that the pilot switch the fuel selectors to the main fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2001, at 1030 eastern standard time, a Beech 55, N8472N, collided with the ground during an attempted forced landing in a pasture near Lake Wales, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Elkin, North Carolina, at 0710 hours. Reportedly, upon arriving within range of the destination airport, the pilot cancelled his instrument flight clearance and entered the traffic pattern for a visual approach. While on final approach to land on runway 06, 100 feet above the ground and 1/4 mile from touchdown, both engines lost power. The pilot selected and attempted a forced landing in a nearby pasture. During the landing roll, the main landing gear was torn from the airframe, and the airplane sustained major structural damage. Examination of the airplane did not reveal that any mechanical problems were found . The pilot had not reported a mechanical problem with the airplane before the total loss of power before his forced landing in the field. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, (POH) the BE-55 with the fuel system capacity of 136 gallons has an estimated endurance of five to seven hours. The pilot had flown only approximately three hours before experiencing a loss of power on both engines. The pilot also reported that he used the fuel from the auxiliary fuel tanks enroute to the destination airport. The pilot stated that he switched the fuel selectors to the main tanks on final approach. Both the descent and before landing checklists require that the pilot switch the fuel selectors to the main fuel tanks. The examination of the fuel system at the accident site disclosed that both main fuel tanks were full. The pilot stated that this accident could have been prevent by using "better fuel management. " ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8472N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8472N-2004-11-05), registration cancelled 2004-11-05, S/N TE-577, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 55 - Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-577 - Airframe hours: 5500 - Engines: Continental 520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas M. Austin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: ZEF, ELKIN, NC - Destination: X07, LAKE WALES, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: X07, Lake Wales, runway 06, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 250 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 20 knots, gusting 7 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOW 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.