# NTSB ATL91LA172: Cessna 401, N13DT, Jackson, TN, September 12, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1991, 19:02 local (Sep 12, 1991, 00:02 UTC)
- Place: Jackson, TN
- Location: 35.6145° N, 88.8139° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jackson, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6145&lon=-88.8139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8469/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA172

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE APPROACH, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE.

## 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
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AND WAS PROCEEDING TO THE AIRPORT VISUALLY.  DURING HIS APPROACH, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT ENGINE.  HE THEN REALIZED THAT HE HAD FAILED TO SWITCH FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE APPROACH, AND EXHAUSTED THE AUXILIARY FUEL SUPPLY.  WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ATTEMPT A RESTART, HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A BEAN FIELD SHORT OF THE AIRPORT.  AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, THE OCCUPANTS EGRESSED, AND THE FUSELAGE WAS CONSUMED IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13DT-1992-01-24), registration cancelled 1992-01-24, S/N 4010247 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401
- Registry model: [Cessna 401](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401) (registry code 207590C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4010247
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Montague, Harvey L.
- Registered owner: Montague Building Company, Inc
- Departed: 5W5, RALEIGH, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MKL, Mckellar Field, runway 11, 3,540 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,681 total, 659 in this make and model, 1,681 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKL, 1 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 19910911039299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910911039299A), Sep 11, 1991: Cessna 401, Jackson, TN, Destroyed. Both engines quit on approach to airport. Crash landed in a bean field and burned. Had failed switch to main tanks.

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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