# NTSB CEN12LA346: Beech 77, N18012, Clark, SD, June 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2012, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Clark, SD - Coordinates: 44.895, -97.710556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8950&lon=-97.7106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA346 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which led to fuel exhaustion, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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 77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 77, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 77, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 77, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech 77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Beech 77, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 77, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1153007), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The passenger reported that the airplane’s low fuel light illuminated during the flight. She stated that they continued the flight and were circling to land on a grass runway when the airplane crashed. A witness reported seeing the airplane pass over the runway at a low altitude with the engine operating. The airplane then abruptly climbed and initiated a turn. The witness said that the airplane’s nose dropped as if the airplane had stalled and it then descended and impacted the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage, which included separation of the engine, outboard left wing and aft fuselage, and upward bending of the right wing. There was no bending of the blades of the engine’s propeller, indicating that the engine was not producing power at the time of the impact. Both fuel tanks ruptured, and only 1 gallon of fuel was recovered at the scene. No fuel was found in the gascolator or carburetor. No fuel odor was present at the accident site. The airplane maintenance manual indicated that 1 gallon of the airplane’s fuel supply was unusable fuel. It is likely that the engine lost power during the landing approach due to fuel exhaustion and that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed after the power loss, resulting in an inadvertent stall. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2012, about 1615 central daylight time, a Beech model 77 airplane, N18012, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground during a landing approach at the Clark County Airport (8D7), Clark, South Dakota. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage to its wings and fuselage. The airplane was registered to Little Chippewa Creek LLC, and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Pierre Regional Airport, Pierre, South Dakota, about 1400. The passenger in the airplane reported that she and the pilot flew from Morris, Minnesota, to Pierre, South Dakota. They then left Pierre about 1400. She reported that the low fuel light illuminated prior to reaching 8D7. They proceeded to 8D7 to land and flew over the airport. They saw a grass runway and were circling around the airport to land when the airplane crashed. A witness to the accident saw the airplane pass over the runway at a relatively low altitude. At the time, the airplane’s engine was operating. He said the airplane then dipped down followed by an abrupt climb and a sharp turn toward the grass runway. The witness surmised that the pilot was trying to make a fast attempt to land on the grass runway. The nose of the airplane then came down as if the airplane had stalled and went into the ground. He estimated that the airplane was 200 feet above ground level when the stall occurred. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the engine, aft fuselage, and outboard left wing were separated from the airplane. The right wing was crushed upward and rearward. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed that both wing fuel tanks were ruptured, the fuel line from the selector valve to the gascolator had broken off, and the gascolator was clean with no debris. Both fuel lines connected to the electric fuel pump had broken off. The upper carburetor mounting flange was separated from the rest of the carburetor, and the throttle butterfly was separated from the engine. No fuel was found in the carburetor or gascolator and there was no fuel smell at the accident site. About one gallon of fuel was drained from the ruptured wing tanks when the airplane was recovered to a trailer for transport from the accident site. The airplanes propeller had no noticeable bending or twisting of the blades. The airplane had a total fuel capacity of 30 gallons, of which 29 was usable in normal flight attitudes. The fuel system included a fuel shutoff valve with on and off positions, but no provision was provided for feeding from a single tank. The fuel monitoring system consisted of a fuel quantity indicator in each wing fuel tank. The system also had a low fuel warning light that operated in conjunction with the two fuel quantityindicators. As of the June 14, 2013, the pilot has not submitted a report of the accident to the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18012](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18012-2016-09-26), registration cancelled 2016-09-26, S/N WA-276, 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-276 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PIR, Pierre, SD - Destination: MOX, Morris, MN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 8D7, Clark County Regional, runway 21, 1,258 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: ATY, 24 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 20120607010519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120607010519A), Jun 7, 2012: Beech 77, Clark, SD, Substantial damage. Pilot and passenger were on cross country trip from pierre, SD to morris, MN. Pilot said left fuel guage showed nearly empty and right fuel guage indicated… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83889. 814 KB in all. - NTSB request for pilot report of accident (item 1, .PDF, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20request%20for%20pilot%20report%20of%20accident-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance manual excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20manual%20excerpts-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. --- 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.