# NTSB ATL05CA087: Beech BE-36, N17836, Dahlonega, GA, May 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2005, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Dahlonega, GA - Coordinates: 34.579166, -84.020278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5792&lon=-84.0203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61691/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagment of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and 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 - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he prepared his airplane for a short cross-country flight. After the preflight he departed the Gainesville Airport and climbed to 3000 feet. Upon arrival at his destination airport he turned downwind and then base to set up for his final approach for landing. As the pilot adjusted the power setting the manifold pressure began to drop. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and the manifold pressure continued to drop and the engine lost power. The pilot made an off field forced landing on a road. During the landing roll out the right wing struck a tree. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the outboard section of the right wing was broken off of the airframe. The nose of the airplane was buckled downward and aft, and the nose gear was separated from the airframe. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the right fuel tank revealed that it had less than a quart of fuel. The left fuel tank had approximately 12 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, "a possible miscalculation of remaining fuel in the right tank, and more attention to fuel management may have prevented the emergency landing". Review of the pilot operating handbook: Before Landing checklist item #2 states: Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT FULLER TANK (feel for detent). ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2005, at 1355 Eastern Standard Time, a Beech 36, N17836, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with a tree during a forced landing near Dahlonega, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was uninjured. The flight departed Gainesville, Georgia on May 24, 2005 at 1330. According to the pilot, he prepared his airplane for a short cross-country flight. After the pre-flight he departed the Gainesville Airport and climbed to 3000 feet. Upon arrival at his destination the pilot flew over the airport and entered the traffic pattern for runway 33. The pilot then turned downwind and base to set up for his final approach to landing. As the pilot adjusted the power setting the manifold pressure began to drop. When the pilot advanced the throttle and the engine did not respond. The pilot switched fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. The manifold pressure continued to drop and the engine lost power. The pilot selected a nearby road, and made an off field forced landing. During the landing roll the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane spun into a ditch. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the outboard section of the right wing was broken off of the airframe. The nose section of the airplane was buckled downward and aft, and the nose gear was separated from the airframe. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the right fuel tank revealed that it had less than a quart of fuel. The left fuel tank had approximately 12 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, "a possible miscalculation of remaining fuel in the right tank, and more attention to fuel management may have prevented the emergency landing". Review of the pilot operating handbook: Before Landing checklist item #2 states: Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT FULLER TANK (feel for detent). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17836](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17836), registered now, S/N E-1041, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1041 - Airframe hours: 3074 - Engines: Continental IO 520 BA12 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: F & W Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Jack Freeman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 1,158 hours before - Departed: GVL, GAINESVILLE, GA - Destination: 9A0, DAHLONEGA, GA - Airport: 9A0, Lumpkin County-Wimpys ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 758 total, 76 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: GVL, 20 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 20050523010589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050523010589A), May 23, 2005: Beech A36, Dahlonega, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 23, 2005, at approximately 1350 local time, N17836, BE-36-A36, single engine bonanza, landed 1/4 of a mile short of rwy 33 from Lumpkin co.… 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.