# NTSB CHI07CA262: Beech BE-77, N1837Y, Bloomington, IN, August 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 8, 2007, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.145832, -86.616668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1458&lon=-86.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66640/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA262 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield after takeoff. The pilot reported that soon after takeoff from runway 17, he noticed the fuel gauge indicated less fuel on board than he expected. He attempted to return to the airport and land on runway 35. About 1/2 mile from runway 35, the engine lost power. The pilot made a "Mayday" report and attempted a forced landing to the grass field adjacent to the airport. He reported that he saw a large roll of hay in his line of flight, so he executed a forced landing to a cornfield and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and had blue stains around the drain. The right fuel tank had only a cup of fuel. Wing tank placards indicated the unusable fuel in each wing tank was .5 gallons. The electric fuel pump contained some residual fuel, but it was not full. No fuel was in the line between the carburetor and the fuel pump. The out line of the fuel pump contained a small amount of fuel. The carburetor bowl contained about 5 to 10 drops of fuel. No mechanical deficiencies were found that would have precluded normal engine operation. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane about 10 days prior to the accident flight, and that he had calculated that there was about 2 hours of fuel remaining in the aircraft. He reported that on the day of the accident flight, he did not use a dipstick to check for the amount of fuel on board the airplane. He reported that he checked the fuel gauges and they indicated there was fuel on board. He reported that he was not sure if he had visually checked inside the fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield after takeoff. The pilot reported that soon after takeoff from runway 17, he noticed the fuel gauge indicated less fuel on board than he expected. He attempted to return to the airport and land on runway 35. About 1/2 mile from runway 35, the engine quit. The pilot made a "Mayday" report and attempted a forced landing to the grass field adjacent to the airport. He reported that he saw a large roll of hay in his line of flight, so he executed a forced landing to a cornfield and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot exited the airplane without injury. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and had blue stains around the drain. The right fuel tank had only a cup of fuel. Wing tank placards indicated the unusable fuel in each wing tank was .5 gallons. The electric fuel pump contained some residual fuel, but it was not full. No fuel was in the line between the carburetor and the fuel pump. The out line of the fuel pump contained a small amount of fuel. The carburetor bowl contained about 5 to 10 drops of fuel. Engine continuity and compression was verified. One propeller blade was bent back about 45 degrees, and the other blade was bent back about 10 degrees. The flight controls exhibited continuity. The flaps were in the up position. The power lever was found in the full forward position. The mixture and carburetor heat were found in the mid-range position. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane about 10 days prior to the accident flight, and that he had calculated that there was about 2 hours of fuel remaining in the aircraft. He reported that on the day of the accident flight, he did not use a dipstick to check for the amount of fuel on board the airplane. He reported that he checked the fuel gauges and they indicated there was fuel on board. He reported that he was not sure if he had visually checked inside the tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1837Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1837Y-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N WA-309, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA-309 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Justin T. Boren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BMG, Bloomington, IN - Airport: BMG, Bloomington, runway 17 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 202 total, 75 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20070808019909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070808019909A), Aug 8, 2007: Beech 77, Bloomington, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) N1837Y piloted by [privacy data omitted] departed Bloomington, IN (bmg) airport runway 17 to the north, then turned to the west. After roll out from the… 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.