# NTSB ATL92FA013: Beech 58, N99CK, Pelham, AL, October 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1991, 21:10 local (Oct 22, 1991, 02:10 UTC)
- Place: Pelham, AL
- Coordinates: 33.490821, -86.809631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4908&lon=-86.8096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8485
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8485/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA013

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BEFORE TAKEOFF, AND HER INATTENTIVENESS TO FUEL CONSUMPTION DURING THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.  FACTORS WERE THE NON-PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND THE DARK, NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - all engines
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FUELED TO CAPACITY THEN FLOWN ON MULTIPLE FLIGHTS. AT THE LAST STOP 18 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO EACH WING TANK, WHICH GAVE 60 GALLONS TOTAL, THE PILOT SAID.  AS THE PILOT PREPARED TO LEAVE, THE LEFT FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS DISCOVERED TO BE INOPERATIVE.  THE PILOT TOLD A MECHANIC THAT SHE TRIED TO START THE LEFT ENGINE BY PLACING THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR ON THE LEFT ENGINE & THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR TO CROSSFEED.  SINCE THE RIGHT BOOST PUMP IS DOWNSTREAM, BETWEEN THE RIGHT ENGINE & THE FUEL SELECTOR, IT WOULD NOT PRESSURIZE FUEL TO THE LEFT ENGINE.  THE LEFT BOOST PUMP WAS REPLACED & THE PILOT DEPARTED.  APPROACHING THE DESTINATION THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER & CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD.  THE THROTTLE QUADRANT WAS NOT SET FOR AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION.  NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT WING TANK.  THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION AND THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE CROSSFEED POSITION, SO THAT BOTH ENGINES WOULD HAVE BEEN FED FROM THE LEFT WING TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99CK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99CK-1992-11-06), registration cancelled 1992-11-06, S/N TH1125 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-1125
- Airframe hours: 3646
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-CB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Green Hills Aviation Co., Inc.
- Registered owner: Green Hills Aviation Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1991, 70 hours before
- Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Destination: BHM, BIRMINGHAM, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,435 total, 742 in this make and model, 3,396 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BHM, 14 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 19911021051139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911021051139A), Oct 21, 1991: Beech 58, Birmingham, AL, Substantial damage. Lost left engine on approach, crash landed. No fuel left tank. Prop not feathered. Right engine on crossfeed.

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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