# NTSB CEN13CA207: Beech A36, N888TT, Fort Stockton, TX, March 27, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 26, 2013, 19:00 local (Mar 27, 2013, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Stockton, TX - Coordinates: 30.915555, -102.916114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9156&lon=-102.9161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 86522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86522/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86522 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA207 ## Probable cause The student pilot inadvertently switching the fuel selector to the OFF position and the flight instructor's failure to monitor the student pilot's actions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was instructed to move the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. When the airplane was on the downwind leg for landing, the instructor told the pilot to reduce power and perform a simulated forced landing. Because the airplane was far from the runway and 200 feet above the ground, the instructor told the pilot to go around. The student advanced the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The instructor took control of the airplane, turned 40 degrees to the right, lowered the landing gear, and made an off-airport landing on a rough dirt field. The left wing struck a large bush and was substantially damaged, and the airplane spun around 90 degrees to the left and slid sideways for about 65 feet. After evacuating the airplane, the instructor returned to turn off the electronics and noticed that the fuel selector was in the OFF position. ## Factual narrative The student was instructed to switch from the right tank to the left tank. When the airplane was on the downwind leg for landing, the instructor told the pilot to reduce power and perform a simulated forced landing. Because the airplane was some distance from the runway and 200 feet above the ground, the instructor told the pilot to go around. The throttle was advanced but the engine did not respond. The instructor took control of the airplane, turned 40 degrees to the right, lowered the landing gear, and made an off-airport landing on a rough dirt field. The left wing struck a large bush and the airplane spun around 90 degrees to the left and slid sideways for about 65 feet. After evacuating the airplane, the instructor returned to turn off the electronics and noticed that the fuel selector was in the OFF position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888TT-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N E-1641, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1641 - Airframe hours: 2461 - Engines: Continental IO-520-B5F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: I.B. Development, LLC - Registered owner: I.B. Development, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2013, 11 hours before - Departed: E01, Monahans, TX - Destination: KFST, Fort Stockton, TX - Airport: KFST, Fort Stockton-Pecos County, runway 12, 7,508 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 4, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 2,683 total, 11 in this make and model, 1,364 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 5 in this make and model, 305 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 18 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KFST, 1 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 20130326004079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130326004079A), Mar 26, 2013: Beech A36, Fort Stockton, TX, Substantial damage. On March 26, 2013 at approximately 19:00 CDT, N888TT, a Beechcraft, model A-36, was performing flight instruction in the vicinity of Fort Stockton-pecos county… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86522. 4.9 MB in all. - NTSB Forn 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Forn%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - N888TT at the accident site (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20N888TT%20at%20the%20accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - The power quadrant (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20The%20power%20quadrant-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - The fuel selector (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20The%20fuel%20selector-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.