# NTSB DEN90LA183: Beech E 33, N7155N, Tulsa, OK, September 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1990, 14:22 local (19:22 UTC)
- Place: Tulsa, OK
- Coordinates: 36.19049, -95.949859 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1905&lon=-95.9499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17988
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17988/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA183

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE RIGHT TANK PRIOR TO THE APPROACH RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT ACCEPTED A VISUAL APPROACH TO LANDING. ON SHORT FINAL, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SAID HE SELECTED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, ENGAGED THE BOOST PUMP AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES ONE HALF MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DRIVEN BACK INTO THE CABIN AREA, THE RIGHT WING WAS TORN OFF, AND THE LEFT WING WAS BENT BACK. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE SELECTED THE FULLEST TANK PRIOR TO BEGINNING HIS LANDING APPROACH. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK, TRACES IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM, SOME EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FUEL SPILL FROM THE RIGHT TANK, AND ONE GALLON REMAINING IN THE RIGHT TANK. A SUCCESSFUL POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN WAS PERFORMED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7155N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7155N-1991-04-01), registration cancelled 1991-04-01, S/N CD1143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E 33
- Registry model: [Beech E33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e33) (registry code 1151422) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CD1143
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lefler, Roger W.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: AUS, AUSTIN, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 467 total, 280 in this make and model, 374 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Observed at: TUL, 2 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900909038639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900909038639A), Sep 9, 1990: Beech E33, Tulsa, OK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Ran out of fuel and crashed short of runway into trees.

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.

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