# NTSB CEN12LA110: Beech 95-B55, N275D, Midland, TX, December 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 2011, 16:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Midland, TX
- Coordinates: 32.003055, -102.842781 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0031&lon=-102.8428&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administraton
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82543
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82543/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82543
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA110

## Probable cause

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

## 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: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); 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)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); 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: 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

When the airplane was on final approach to land, about 1 mile from the airport, both engines lost power. The pilot attempted an engine restart to no avail. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot selected a residential road and performed a forced landing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Impact damage precluded a determination of the total fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. The pilot further reported that he misinterpreted the airplane's crossfeed fuel operation and suggested he should have stopped en route for fuel.

## Factual narrative

On December 15, 2011, about 1605 central standard time, a Beech 95-B55, N275D, experienced a total loss of power from both engines while on final approach to the Midland Airpark (MDD), Midland, Texas. The pilot made a forced landing to a residential street and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Midland College of Midland, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated from the Biggs Skypatch Airport (43OK), Wellston, Oklahoma at 1425. According to the pilot, the airplane departed with approximately 65 gallons of fuel. During takeoff, the fuel selectors were in the main (MAIN) tank position for both engines. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot selected the auxiliary (AUX) fuel tanks "to burn from them first." Approximately 30 minutes later, the left engine started to vibrate like it wasn't getting enough fuel, so the pilot selected the left fuel tank from AUX to MAIN. The fuel selector change corrected the engine problem. At this point, the left engine fuel was being drawn from the left MAIN tank and the right engine fuel was being drawn from the right AUX tank. A short time later, the right engine began to vibrate and the pilot selected the right fuel tank from AUX to MAIN. The fuel selector change corrected the problem. At this time, both fuel selectors were in the MAIN tank position. Approximately 35 miles from MDD, the pilot elected to cross feed the tanks to "balance the main tanks more." He selected the right fuel selector to CROSS FEED and the left fuel selector to AUX. The pilot and passenger then reference the flight manual for cross feed fuel operations and verified the operation. The pilot reported entering the airport traffic pattern on the downwind leg, followed by the completion of the “Before Landing Checklist.” While on final approach, and about a mile from the end of the runway, both engines lost power. The pilot attempted an engine restart to no avail. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot selected a residential road and performed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane’s left wing and fuselage sustained structural damage. Both occupants were able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the total fuel in the MAIN and AUX fuel tanks was not determined due to impact damage. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the pilot reported he misinterpreted the airplane's cross feed fuel operation and suggested he should have stopped en route for fuel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N275D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N275D-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N TC-589, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-589
- Airframe hours: 8270
- Engines: Continental Motors IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Midland College
- Registered owner: Midland College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 14, 2011
- Departed: 43OK, Wellston, OK
- Destination: MDD, Midland, TX
- Airport: MDD, Midland Airpark, runway 07, 5,022 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 4,241 total, 528 in this make and model, 3,004 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 111 total, 10 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg

## 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 20111215029099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111215029099A), Dec 15, 2011: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Midland, TX, Substantial damage. On December 15, 2011, at approximately 1608 CST (2208 UTC) N275D, a Beechcraft baron BE-55 aircraft, lost power on both engines during the landing approach to…

## Other investigations on N275D (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW67F0124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67F0124), Jul 26, 1966: Beech 95-B55 (N275D), Shreveport, LA, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82543. 700 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Fuel System Schematic (Beech) (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20System%20Schematic%20(Beech)-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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