CHI95LA269

The airplane impacted the terrain during a forced landing following fuel exhaustion. Prior to takeoff the pilot stated he was concerned about the gross weight of the airplane and that he was going to initiate the flight with 30 gallons of fuel. He made one en route stop 228 nm into the trip where he refueled by adding 30 gallons of fuel. The accident occurred approximately 390 nm from this fuel stop. Total fuel capacity of the airplane is 52 gallons usable.

On August 11, 1995, at 1923 eastern daylight time, a Beech B24R, N2503W, flown by a private pilot collided with the terrain during a forced landing in a field 1/2 mile west of Tell City, Indiana, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers all received serious injures. The flight departed from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on August 11, 1995, at an undetermined time.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner who checked the accident pilot out in the airplane stated he spoke with the pilot on both the day prior to the accident and on the morning of the accident. The pilot stated that he was concerned about the gross weight of the airplane with regards to fuel load. He stated he intended to takeoff with 30 gallons of fuel which would bring him approximately 120 gallons below the maximum gross weight. He stated he would stop of fuel in the vicinity of Allegheny Airport (near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and would "gas up as necessary."

The pilot departed Great Barrington (GRB) and flew to Cumberland (CBE), Maryland, where he added 30 gallons of fuel. The flight from GRB to CBE is 288 nautical miles. The flight then continued to the destination of Owensboro (OWB), Kentucky. The distance for this second leg of the trip is 410 nautical miles. The accident occurred approximately 21 nautical miles northeast of OWB.

According to B24R performance data with a fuel load of 32 gallons, range varies from 302 to 327 nautical miles depending on altitude and power setting. Total fuel capacity of the airplane is 52 gallons of usable fuel.

A rescue worker who responded to the accident site stated he asked the pilot how much fuel was on board the airplane. The pilot responded that there was no fuel on board. Post accident inspection of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed the fuel selector valve was positioned on the right tank and that the right tank appeared to be empty. He stated that the left fuel tank appeared to have a half inch of fuel at the inboard end of the wing. According to the FAA inspector, the airplane appeared to have touched down, bounced, and contacted a mound of dirt prior to impacting the ground in a nose down attitude.

DUAT flight planning information was found in the airplane after the accident. The flight plan was for a flight from GRB to Allegheny County, then from Allegheny County to Owensboro. The flight profile information was calculated using a fuel load of 30 gallons.