# NTSB DEN06LA126: Beech 77, N3818M, Live Oak, FL, September 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2006, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Live Oak, FL - Coordinates: 30.300277, -83.029998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3003&lon=-83.0300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA126 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for reasons undetermined, and an inadvertent stall while maneuvering. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The flight instructor said the student pilot preflighted the airplane and taxied it to the fuel pump, where the instructor topped it off with 21.4 gallons of fuel. The student pilot then taxied to runway 07, did an engine runup, and took off. He made at "at least" one touch-and-go landing. When the instructor noticed the airplane again, "the nose of the airplane dip[ped] twice over the last third of the runway before [the student] turned the plane to the left in an attempt to return to the runway." Another witness said he heard the engine "spit and sputter." Power was restored for approximately 2 to 3 seconds, then the engine "spit and sputtered 3 to 4 times again, then there was no sound at all." The airplane banked to the left, lost [altitude], then [nosed into the ground]." The student pilot later confirmed that the engine had lost power shortly after he took off. The fuel selector was on the left tank, and fuel was leaking from the compromised fuel tanks. The engine was later disassembled and examined. Internal gear and valve train continuity was confirmed. The electrical, fuel, lubrication and exhaust systems were also disassembled and examined. No anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2006, approximately 1610 eastern daylight time, a Beech 77, N3818M, piloted by a student pilot, was destroyed when the engine lost power during takeoff and the airplane struck terrain at Suwannee County Airport (24J), Live Oak, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot was seriously injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The flight instructor said the student pilot preflighted the airplane and taxied it to the fuel pump, where the instructor topped it off with 21.4 gallons of fuel. The student pilot then taxied to runway 07, did an engine runup, and took off. He made at "at least" one touch-and-go landing. When the instructor noticed the airplane again, "the nose of the airplane dip[ped] twice over the last third of the runway before [the student] turned the plane to the left in an attempt to return to the runway." When the instructor arrived at the accident site, he turned off the fuel selector, battery switch, and magnetos. Police, fire and rescue personnel were dispatched at 1613. Another witness, who was only 100 to 150 feet from the accident site, said he heard the engine "spit and sputter." Power was restored for approximately 2 to 3 seconds, then the engine "spit and sputtered 3 to 4 times again, then there was no sound at all." The airplane banked to the left, lost [altitude], then [nosed into the ground]." The student pilot later confirmed that the engine had lost power shortly after he took off. An FAA inspector responded the accident site and reported finding the airplane about 300 feet to the left side of the runway and abeam the threshold. He said the flaps were retracted, and the throttle and mixture control were full forward. The fuel selector was on the left tank, and residual fuel was leaking from the compromised left fuel tank. The right fuel tank, which was intact, was empty. On September 20, a representative of Textron Lycoming disassembled and examined the engine under FAA auspices. Internal gear and valve train continuity was confirmed. The electrical, fuel, lubrication and exhaust systems were also disassembled and examined. No anomalies were noted. Numerous requests were made of the student pilot and his father to submit NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Report. The report was never received. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3818M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3818M-2008-08-05), registration cancelled 2008-08-05, S/N WA-222, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA-222 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fessler Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: 24J, Live Oak, FL - Destination: 24J - Airport: 24J, Suwannee County, runway 07, 4,037 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 10 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20060911021419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060911021419A), Sep 11, 2006: Beech 77, Live Oak, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On September 11, 2006, at approximately 1615 EST, a Beechcraft 77, N3818M, serial number WA-22, was totally destroyed when the student pilot lost engine… 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.