# NTSB ATL99LA112: Beech 77, N38482, Dawson, GA, July 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1999, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Dawson, GA - Location: 31.7719° N, 84.4435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dawson, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7719&lon=-84.4435&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46878/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA112 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation that resulted from a blocked fuel line check valve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,line - blocked(total) (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Forced landing, approach - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into flight, the pilot initiated an enroute descent from 4500 feet to 2500 feet. The pilot stated that during the descent the engine lost power. Several attempts by the pilot to restart engine power failed. The pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. The airplane flipped over following the touchdown. Examination of the airplane disclosed that approximately 13 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank. No fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel selector has only two positions, on and off. The POH also showed that the fuel system has two in-line check valves to prevent fuel movement between tanks. According to the operator, he had experience check valve failure on several occasions in other Beech 77 type airplanes. Both check valves were removed from the fuel system. Examination of the right check valve disclosed that it was blocked. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1999, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Beech 77, N38482, flipped inverted in a field during an attempted forced landing eight miles North of Dawson Airport, in Dawson, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, in Atlanta, Georgia, at 0945. Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into flight, the pilot initiated an enroute descent from 4500 feet to 2500 feet. The pilot stated that during the descent the engine lost power. Several attempts by the pilot to restart engine power failed. The pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. The airplane flipped over following the touchdown. Examination of the airplane disclosed that approximately 13 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank. No fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) and Flight Manual, the fuel selector has only two positions, on and off. The POH also showed that the fuel system has two in-line check valves to prevent fuel movement between tanks. According to the operator, he had experience check valve failure on several occasions in other Beech 77 type airplanes. Both check valves were removed from the fuel system. Examination of the right check valve disclosed that it was blocked. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38482](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38482-2011-01-07), registration cancelled 2011-01-07, S/N WA-245, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA-245 - Airframe hours: 4435 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Michael C. Stern, doing business as Business - Registered owner: Sid Hall Enterprise Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: PDK, DEKALB-PEACHTRE, GA - Destination: 16J, GA - Airport: 16J, Dawson ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,359 total, 186 in this make and model, 1,275 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 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 19990723009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990723009549A), Jul 23, 1999: Beech 77, North Dawson, GA, Substantial damage. Engine failed furing descent. (-23) no narrative 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.