- Date
- June 21, 1996, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Ainsworth, NE
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6014FBeech C23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960621047259A
- Case key
- 10284
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 fuel consumption calculations which led to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area for the forced landing.
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 reported that he performed thorough preflight fuel consumption calculations. The 'first indication of a minimum fuel situation' was when he noticed the right fuel gauge 'deep into the yellow.' He selected the right fuel tank until the gauge indicated empty. The left fuel tank was selected and 1/8 fuel was indicated when the engine lost power. He switched to the right fuel tank and the engine regained power. The engine lost power again. The pilot selected a landing site in a field. On final, he realized that the terrain in the field was sloping about 20 degrees. He turned left to line up with a road and the left wing impacted the road. The airplane departed the right side of the road and descended a steep embankment. It traveled through a fence and came to rest in a flooded field sustaining substantial damage. The pilot and passenger egressed uneventfully.
Factual narrative
On June 21, 1996, at 1145 central daylight time, Beech C23, N6014F, sustained substantial during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power near Ainsworth, Nebraska. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City, Missouri about 0730 with a planned destination of Ainsworth, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
In his written statement the pilot reported that he performed thorough preflight fuel consumption calculations. He switched between fuel tanks every 20 minutes and the "first indication of a minimum fuel situation" was when he noticed the right fuel gauge "deep into the yellow." He calculated that Ainsworth, Nebraska was the closest airport. He selected the right fuel tank until the gauge indicated empty. The left fuel tank was selected and 1/8 fuel was indicated when the engine lost power. He switched to the right fuel tank and the engine regained power. The engine lost power again.
The pilot selected a landing site in a field. On final, he realized that the terrain in the field was sloping about 20 degrees. He turned left to line up with a road and the left wing impacted the road. The airplane departed the right side of the road and descended a steep embankment. It traveled through a fence and came to rest in a flooded field. The pilot and passenger egressed uneventfully.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane reported that he drained about 1 pint of fuel from the main fuel drain, one pint from the left main fuel tank, and 1/2 pint from the right main fuel tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6014F
- Reported as
- Beech C23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M-2107
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Executive Beechcraft, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MKC · Kansas City, MO
- Destination
- ANW
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 185 total · 73 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6014F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.