- Date
- July 31, 1994, 22:15 local (Aug 1, 1994, 03:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wichita, KS
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7960MBeech 33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940731019819A
- Case key
- 9616
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
the pilot's inadequate management of the fuel which resulted in fuel starvation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern in preparation for landing. While on the downwind leg, the airplane lost all engine power. The pilot stated he immediately switched the selected fuel tank and turned the boost pump on. The engine restarted and ran for approximately three seconds. The pilot switched the selected fuel tank again and tried to restart without success. The pilot made a forced landing on an adjacent field. Post accident examination revealed no fuel in the left tank and approximately 20 gallons in the right. The fuel selector handle was found 1/4 to 1/8 rotation out of the right fuel tank selection detent. An engine test run was preformed. The engine started immediately and ran up to 2750 RPM without incident.
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1994, 2215 central daylight time, a Beech 33, N7960M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees following a loss of engine power while on approach to Jabara Airport, Wichita, Kansas. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, the second passenger received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight originated in New Lennox, Illinois, at 1900. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
During a telephone interview, the pilot stated both fuel tanks were topped off with fuel prior to his departure for the estimated three hour and ten minute flight. Thirty minutes after departing New Lennox, the pilot stated he switched the selected fuel tank and then switched tanks every hour for the remainder of the flight. The mixture control, he stated, was adjusted throughout the flight.
The pilot stated at approximately fifty miles from Wichita at a cruising altitude of 10,500 feet MSL, he contacted Wichita Air Traffic Control (ATC). ATC cleared N7960M to descend to 5,500 feet MSL and then gave him several vectors for approximately five minutes due to other traffic in the local area. After being cleared to descend to traffic pattern altitude, the pilot stated he had a hard time locating Jabara Airport. He stated that it took him "...a couple of minutes" to locate the airport.
After locating Jabara, the pilot overflew the airport and entered the traffic pattern in preparation for landing. While on the downwind leg for runway 18, the airplane's engine lost all power.
The pilot stated he immediately switched the selected fuel tank and turned on the boost pump. The pilot stated the engine started and ran for approximately three seconds before losing all power again. He immediately switched the selected tank again and turned on the boost pump. Again, the engine started and ran for approximately three seconds but then lost all power. Believing that he would not be able to make it to the runway, the pilot turned the airplane into the wind, retracted the landing gear, and made a forced landing.
The pilot stated he believes there should have been approximately thirty gallons of fuel remaining, 17 gallons in one tank, and 13 gallons in the other at the time of the accident.
N7960M has a 80 gallon fuel capacity, 74 gallons of which are usable. Postaccident investigation revealed the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained approximately 20 gallons. The fuel selector handle was found 1/4 to 1/8 rotation out of the right fuel tank selection detent. Both fuel tanks were intact and undamaged.
During the postaccident engine test run, the engine started immediately without incident. The engine was run up to 2750 RPM and meet all manufacturer perameters and specifications.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7960M
- Reported as
- Beech 33
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE-109
- Airframe hours
- 2,885
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- R.E. Hansen & D.E. O'Malley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1994 · 39 hours before
- Departed
- 1C2 · New Lennox, IL
- Destination
- ICT
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 3KM · Jabara, runway 18, 6,100 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 163 total · 49 in this make and model · 14 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ICT, 11 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.