- Date
- August 10, 2014, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bremond, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5812KBeech 95 B55 (T42A)
- Defining event
- Enroute: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 1, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20140810012919A
- Case key
- 90019
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot performed a preflight of the airplane, to include fuel selector valves in preparation of an upcoming trip. The purpose of the accident flight was to reposition to another airport where fuel was available to refuel the airplane. Approximately 30 minutes into the repositioning flight the left engine began to surge and then quit, followed by the right engine quitting. The pilot was unable to troubleshoot the situation due to his altitude and performed an emergency landing. The airplane was substantially damaged during the landing. The pilot shutdown the airplane and egressed, positioning the fuel selectors to OFF in the process. Examination of the airplane revealed fuel present in the main tanks and both axillary tanks were empty. No anomalies were noted with airplane or engines. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with fuel starvation due to mismanagement of fuel inflight.
Factual narrative
The pilot performed a preflight of the airplane, to include fuel selector valves in preparation of an upcoming trip. The purpose of the accident flight was to reposition to another airport where fuel was available to refuel the airplane. Approximately 30 minutes into the repositioning flight the left engine began to surge and then quit, followed by the right engine quitting. The pilot was unable to troubleshoot the situation due to his altitude and performed an emergency landing. The airplane was substantially damaged during the landing. The pilot shutdown the airplane and egressed, positioning the fuel selectors to OFF in the process. Examination of the airplane revealed fuel present in the main tanks and both axillary tanks were empty. No anomalies were noted with airplane or engines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5812K
- Reported as
- Beech 95 B55 (T42A) (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TC-939
- Built
- 1965
- Engines
- IO470, reciprocatingIO470, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Shoemaker James W
- Registered owner
- Shoemaker James W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Hilltop Lakes, TX
- Destination
- Hearne, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 19, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KLXY, 13 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 600 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.