# NTSB CEN13CA162: Beech A60, N7466D, Abilene, TX, February 14, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 14, 2013, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Abilene, TX - Coordinates: 32.508609, -99.607223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5086&lon=-99.6072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86224/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86224 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA162 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech A60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01070000): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01070000/cases.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01070000/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech A60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1153604), [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 A60, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Beech A60, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=1153604), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had added fuel at the previous fuel stop and that he was using a fuel totalizer to determine the quantity of fuel onboard. After climbing to a cruise altitude of 14,000 feet above ground level, he discovered that the fuel mixture control was frozen and that he was unable to lean the mixture to a lower fuel flow setting. The pilot reported that because of the increased fuel consumption, he briefly considered an en route stop for additional fuel but decided to continue. During descent, the airplane experienced a complete loss of power in both engines, and the pilot made an emergency off-field, gear-up landing about 7 miles from the destination. The airplane impacted terrain and thick scrub trees, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, both engine mounts, and the fuselage. A postaccident examination found that only a trace of fuel remained. The pilot also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that his inadequate fuel management was partly because he had become overconfident in his abilities after 50 years of flying. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had added a specified amount of fuel at the previous fuel stop and he was using a fuel totalizer to determine the quantity of fuel on-board. After climbing to a cruise altitude of 14,000 feet above ground level he discovered that the fuel mixture control was frozen and he was unable to lean the mixture to a lower fuel flow setting. The pilot reported that because of the increased fuel consumption he briefly considered an enroute stop for additional fuel but decided to continue. During descent the airplane experienced a complete loss of power in both engines and the pilot made an emergency off-field gear-up landing about 7 miles from the destination. The airplane impacted terrain and thick scrub trees which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, both engine mounts, and the fuselage. A postaccident examination found that only a trace of fuel remained. The pilot also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that his inadequate fuel management was partly because he had become overconfident in his abilities after 50 years of flying. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7466D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7466D-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N P-139, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A60 - Registry model: [Beech A60](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a60) (registry code 1153604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-541 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-541-series) (registry code 41536, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P-139 - Airframe hours: 3725 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-541 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-541 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Frank Leroy Bell - Registered owner: Leroy Bell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2012, 30 hours before - Departed: FSM, Fort Smith, AR - Destination: ABI, Abilene, TX - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KABI, 7 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 20130214001179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130214001179A), Feb 14, 2013: Beech A60, Abilene, TX, Substantial damage. On February 14, 2013, N7466D, a Beechcraft duke, departed from fort smith, Arkansas (kfsm) on an IFR flight to Abilene, Texas (kabi). The pilot was the only… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86224. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.