# NTSB ATL07LA128: Beech B90, N10TM, Chattanooga, TN, September 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 2007, 20:15 local (Sep 20, 2007, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Chattanooga, TN - Coordinates: 35.034442, -85.202224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0344&lon=-85.2022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66721/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion during the landing approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle ## Analysis Prior to departing, the pilot looked at the fuel quantity indicators, and believed that approximately 3 hours of fuel was available for the estimated 1 hour 20 minute flight. Upon reaching the cruise portion of the flight, the pilot realized that an insufficient quantity of fuel remained in order to complete the planned flight, and he elected to divert to a closer airport. While on final approach to the diversionary airport, both engines lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing to a parking lot. When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane during the flight, the pilot stated, "the airplane performed the way it was suppose to when it ran out of fuel." ## Factual narrative On September 19, 2007, at 2015 central daylight time, a Beech B90, N10TM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The certificated airline transport pilot and three passengers incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the corporate flight, enroute from Birmingham International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama to Georgetown Scott County Airport (27K), Georgetown, Kentucky. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air Amteck LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 91. During a telephone interview, and in a written statement, the pilot recounted the events that occurred leading up to, and during, the accident flight. The pilot stated that during preflight inspection of the airplane, he noticed that all four fuel gauges displayed fuel quantity indications between the "3/4 and full." He was not concerned about the fuel level because he believed that approximately 3 hours of fuel was available for the estimated 1 hour 20 minute return flight. After departing BHM, and as the pilot leveled the airplane for the cruise portion of the flight, he "happened to look at the two left gauges and noticed that they were practically empty." The pilot then elected to divert to Lovell Field Airport (CHA), Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was 45 miles away. At that point the airplane was flying at flight level 210, and he estimated that he had about 50 gallons of fuel remaining. While on final approach to CHA, the left engine "quit," followed by the right engine. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing to a parking lot, impacting a light pole and collided with several parked cars. When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane during the flight, the pilot stated, "the airplane performed the way it was suppose to when it ran out of fuel." He went on to say that he noted no abnormal mechanical or flight control issues during the flight. First responders to the accident scene reported a small amount of fuel spillage from the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both the nacelle and the wing fuel tanks were absent of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10TM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10TM-2009-06-12), registration cancelled 2009-06-12, S/N LJ-476, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B90 - Registry model: [Beech B90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b90) (registry code 1152912) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-21) (registry code 52172, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-476 - Airframe hours: 9638 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-21 550 lbs thrust turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-21 550 lbs thrust turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Amteck, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 1, 2007, 10 hours before - Departed: BHM, BIRMINGHAM, AL - Destination: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CHA, Lovell Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 11,150 total, 371 in this make and model, 7,220 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KCHA, 2 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 20070919021599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070919021599A), Sep 19, 2007: Beech B90, Chattanooga, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) On 09/19/2007, at 2015 hrs the pilot [privacy data omitted] operated aircraft N10TM, a Beechcraft B90 king air, with three passengers on board from… 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.