# NTSB ERA13CA073: Beech B19, N2196W, Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 1, 2012, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.191944, -80.171112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1919&lon=-80.1711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85722 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85722/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85722 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B19, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B19, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech B19, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151215), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was an orientation for two potential student pilots. The pilot said that he completed a visual inspection of the fuel tanks and that he estimated that the fuel tanks contained 10 gallons of fuel, which he determined, would have been adequate for the flight. The pilot completed two traffic patterns, and as he climbed the airplane to the downwind leg of the third pattern, the engine lost power and "surged" during the subsequent forced landing. The pilot requested an emergency landing to runway 13 but amended his request to runway 8 because the airplane was "too high." He subsequently determined the airplane was "too low" for runway 8, and the airplane touched down hard on a taxiway and skidded to a stop in the grass infield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin floor structure. Examination revealed that the airplane contained no fuel, and the pilot reported that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was an orientation for two potential student pilots. During preflight, the pilot estimated that the fuel tanks contained 10 gallons of fuel, which he determined would be adequate for the flight. After completing two traffic patterns, and climbing the airplane to the downwind leg of the third pattern, the engine lost power, and "surged" during the subsequent forced landing. The pilot requested an emergency landing to runway 13, but amended his request to runway 8 because the airplane was "too high." He subsequently determined the airplane was "too low" for runway 8 and touched down hard on a taxiway, and skidded to a stop in the grass infield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin floor structure, but the occupants were not injured. Examination revealed that the airplane contained no fuel, and the pilot reported that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2196W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2196W-2014-10-21), registration cancelled 2014-10-21, S/N MB-690, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B19 - Registry model: [Beech B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b19) (registry code 1151215) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MB-690 - Airframe hours: 4606 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Status Air - Registered owner: Steven George Gilchrist - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2012, 62 hours before - Departed: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FXE, Ft. Lauderdale Executive, runway 08, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 365 total, 22 in this make and model, 176 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: FXE ## 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 20121201025919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121201025919A), Dec 1, 2012: Beech B19, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. When inspector arrived at the airport, inspector found the person (poc) who worked for the airport. He advised me that the aircraft was in the grass and had… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85722. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statements (item 3, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Statement (item 5, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airport Employee Statements w/Wreckage Diagram (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Employee%20Statements%20w%2FWreckage%20Diagram-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Picture of Main Wreckage and Initial Impact Point - Courtesy of FAA (item 7, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20and%20Initial%20Impact%20Point%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Picture of Interior Cabin Floor - Courtesy of FAA (item 8, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Interior%20Cabin%20Floor%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.