# NTSB FTW03TA087: Beech T-34B, N20684, Hammond, LA, January 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: January 18, 2003, 19:15 local (Jan 19, 2003, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Hammond, LA - Coordinates: 30.520833, -90.417503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5208&lon=-90.4175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03TA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56367/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03TA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - light condition - night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis Approximately 3 hours into the cross-country flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, the attempts were unsuccessful. Due to the night conditions, the pilot executed a forced landing to "the lightest colored area of vegatation." During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and the terrain, and came to rest upright. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that "there was no fuel in the fuel tanks," and no evidence of fuel was found at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2003, approximately 1915 central standard time, a Beech T-34B single-engine airplane, N20684, was destroyed during a forced landing when it impacted trees and the terrain following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Hammond, Louisiana. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the North Island Navy Flying Club of San Diego, California. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the public use ferry flight. The cross-country flight departed the Suwannee County Airport, Live Oak, Florida, approximately 1515, and was destined for San Diego, California, with a scheduled stop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that approximately 4 hours into the flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot declared "Mayday", pitched the airplane to its published best glide airspeed, and initiated emergency engine re-start procedures. The engine re-start was unsuccessful, the pilot contacted air traffic control, requested vectors to the nearest airport, and activated the airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT). After an unsuccessful second attempt to re-start the engine, the pilot executed a forced landing to "the lightest colored area of vegatation." During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and the terrain, and came to rest upright. The pilot added that when he exited the airplane, he noted a "strong odor of aviation fuel." The pilot reported that 52 gallons of fuel was on board at the last takeoff, and each fuel tank was placarded "26 gallons US". According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the accident site was located approximately 5 nautical miles east-northeast of Hammond. The inspector reported that "there was no fuel in the fuel tanks," and there was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site. In addition, the inspector reported that the airplane was to be operated during Day/VMC (visual meteorological conditions) only. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20684](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20684-2006-09-21), registration cancelled 2006-09-21, S/N BG-10, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech T-34B - Registry model: [Beech D-45](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d-45) (registry code 1152012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BG-10 - Engines: Continental O-470-4 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Public use - Registered owner: North Island Navy Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 24J, Live Oak, FL - Destination: BTR, Baton Rouge, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 22, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 4,784 total, 4,537 as pilot in command, 277 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - 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 20030118004659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030118004659A), Jan 18, 2003: Beech D45, Robert, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported to new orleans approach that he had lost power. New orleans approach was attempting to vector the aircraft when it crashed in a field. 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.