# NTSB FTW90LA134: Beech BE-76, N2008A, Gainsville, TX, July 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1990, 00:10 local (05:10 UTC)
- Place: Gainsville, TX
- Coordinates: 33.629432, -97.150688 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6294&lon=-97.1507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23153/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA134

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO INADEQUATE PLANNING BY THE PILOT.

## 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
  - all engines
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXECUTED A GEAR DOWN FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD FOLLOWING A DUAL ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT TO WHICH THE PIC HAD ELECTED TO DIVERT DUE TO A LOW FUEL STATE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A TOTAL OF 2 GALLONS PRESENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH CARRIED 103 GAL., OF WHICH 100 WERE USABLE. CALCULATIONS MADE USING THE OUTBOUND FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES INDICATED A FUEL BURN OF 98.8 GAL. UP TO THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURES. DURING THE RETURN LEG, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED HEAD WINGS WHICH ADDED 1 HR. TO THE FLIGHT TIME. HOWEVER, THE PIC STATED THAT HE DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THE ADVERSE WINDS UNTIL LATE IN THE FLIGHT. AT THAT TIME THE DECISION TO DIVERT WAS MADE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2008A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2008A-1993-02-19), registration cancelled 1993-02-19, S/N ME67 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-76
- Registry model: [Beech 76](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-76) (registry code 1153005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: ME-67
- Airframe hours: 5542
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1G6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cohen, Michael E., doing business as Ari Ben Aviator
- Registered owner: Cohen, Michael E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 29, 1990
- Departed: CIN, CARROLL, IA
- Destination: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Airport: GLE, Gainesville Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 194 total, 24 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW, 15 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 19900708024419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900708024419A), Jul 8, 1990: Beech 76, Gainesville, TX, Substantial damage. Notice low fuel near destination diverted but ran out of fuel on approach to airport.

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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