# NTSB CEN11CA633: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), N742LB, Damon, TX, September 6, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 5, 2011, 19:10 local (Sep 6, 2011, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Damon, TX
- Coordinates: 29.287776, -95.741386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2878&lon=-95.7414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Houston FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA633
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81755/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81755
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA633

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management during cruise flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was in level cruise flight, about 2,300 feet above ground level, when both engines experienced a simultaneous complete loss of power. The pilot reported he was unable to restart either engine and established a glide for an emergency landing on a county road. During the landing, the airplane impacted thick mesquite bushes about 150 feet short of the intended landing spot and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that he failed to notice that the fuel selector for the right engine was in the “cross feed” position and that both engines were using fuel from the left fuel tank until the fuel in the left tank was depleted. Approximately 35 gallons of fuel was observed in the right fuel tank after the accident.

## Factual narrative

The airplane was in level cruise flight, about 2,300 feet above ground level (agl), when both engines had a simultaneous complete loss of power. The pilot reported he was unable to restart either engine and established a glide for an emergency off field landing on a county road. The airplane impacted flat terrain in thick mesquite bushes about 150 feet short of the intended landing spot and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that he had failed to notice the fuel selector for the right engine was in the “cross feed” position and that both engines were using fuel from the left fuel tank until the fuel in the left tank was depleted. Approximately 35 gallons of fuel were found in the right fuel tank after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N742LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N742LB-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N TC-1963, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55 (T42A)
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-1963
- Airframe hours: 3745
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2011, 1 hours before
- Departed: BYY, Bay City, TX
- Destination: SGR, Sugar Land, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,089 total, 492 in this make and model, 1,021 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KLBX, 18 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 20110905020059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110905020059A), Sep 5, 2011: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Damon, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft at cruise altitude of 2400' enroute to ksgr when both engines lost power. Aircraft crashed in field after clipping utility power lines. Aircraft came…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81755. 895 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Maps (item 3, .PDF, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF
- Weather Summary (item 4, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Photo - Fuel Selector Valves - NTSB Photo (item 5, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Fuel%20Selector%20Valves%20-%20NTSB%20Photo-Master.PDF

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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