# NTSB ATL06CA004: Beech F33A, N273PS, Millington, TN, October 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2005, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Millington, TN - Coordinates: 35.278888, -89.930557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2789&lon=-89.9306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Memphis FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and misjudged distance to the forced landing area resulting in a stall and collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - emergency - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated he crossed over the destination airport at mid field and entered a right downwind for landing to runway 36 when the engine lost power. Another airplane was on base leg for landing. The pilot elected to make a forced landing in the grass next to runway 36. He immediately switched the fuel tank from the left main fuel tank to the right fuel tank and attempted an engine restart without success. The pilot stated he misjudged his landing distance by about 150 feet and failed to maintain airspeed on final. The airplane stalled and collided with the ground on the nose gear. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed the left fuel quantity indicator indicated empty. The fuel tank was not ruptured and no fuel was present in the fuel tank. The pilot's Operating Handbook states the airplane has three gallons of unusable fuel in each fuel tank. Three gallons of fuel was drained from the left main fuel tank. The fuel line was disconnected at the fuel flow divider, and the fuel line to the inlet side of the engine driven fuel pump was disconnected. No fuel was present. The nose section of the airplane was positioned in a brace and the airplane was tied down with a cargo strap. The engine was started and ran smoothly with the fuel selector selected on the right main fuel tank. ## Factual narrative "This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for this case. For further information please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquires." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N273PS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N273PS), registered now, S/N CE-379, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech F33A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-379 - Airframe hours: 3607 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dennis Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005, 25 hours before - Departed: ROG, Rodgers, AR - Destination: 2M8, Millington, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 2M8, Charles Baker, runway 36, 3,500 × ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,022 total, 200 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: NQA ## 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 20051012028779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051012028779A), Oct 12, 2005: Beech F33A, Millington, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) There were no mechanical airworthiness malfunctions identified. The l/h fuel tank was drained and found only 3 gals of fuel, which is the total unusable… 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.