# NTSB DEN93FA032: Beech A36, N4495W, Englewood, CO, March 13, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1993, 12:04 local (19:04 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.700504, -105.040786 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7005&lon=-105.0408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93FA032

## Probable cause

POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF FAILING TO REFUEL EN ROUTE.  FACTORS WERE:  INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT BEING FLOWN, AND BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.

## Analysis

ON A TWO MILE FINAL, WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APPROACH AT THE TERMINATION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT INFORMED THE TOWER HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A POND APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY OF INTENDED LANDING.  NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT OR AROUND THE ACCIDENT SITE.  ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT OPERATING MANUAL THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE ENDURANCE OF 4.4 TO 4.65 HOURS DEPENDING ON POWER SETTING.  THE ACTUAL DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS 4.81 HOURS, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES WHEN THE RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS DATA INDICATE THE PILOT TO HAVE BEEN LOST AND DISORIENTED.

## 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 - exhaustion
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
  - terrain condition - water
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4495W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4495W-1995-09-16), registration cancelled 1995-09-16, S/N E552 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-552
- Airframe hours: 3032
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO520-BA10 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Centerline Aviation
- Registered owner: Gruver, Steven And Julia
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1992, 82 hours before
- Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Cenntenial Airport, runway 17, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 636 total, 3 in this make and model, 506 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 1 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 19930313004989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930313004989A), Mar 13, 1993: Beech A36, Denver, CO, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Engine quit on approach to runway. Impacted sewage pond. No fuel on board. Was over gross weight on departure.

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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