# NTSB FTW93FA008: Beech 95-B55B, N153Q, Chatham, LA, October 8, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1992, 21:33 local (Oct 8, 1992, 02:33 UTC)
- Place: Chatham, LA
- Coordinates: 32.300846, -92.450485 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3008&lon=-92.4505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18577
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18577/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA008

## Probable cause

THE INADVERTENT STALL AND SPIN. FACTORS WERE THE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, THE DARK NIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO USE THE BOOST PUMP FOR ENGINE RESTART.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - fuel system,electric boost pump - not engaged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE ONLY ONE NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AS THE ONLY RATED PILOT IN THE AIRPLANE. ANOTHER PILOT WHO USUALLY SERVED AS A CREW MEMBER REPORTED THAT DURING THE CRUISE PORTION OF THE SECOND LEG OF HIS CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WOULD NORMALLY RUN THE ENGINES ON THE AUXILIARY TANKS UNTIL THEY WERE EMPTY AND THEN SWITCH TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS AND AIR START THE ENGINES. THIS PROCEDURE REQUIRES THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMPS BE IN THE 'ON' POSITION. THE FUEL BOOST PUMPS WERE IN THE 'OFF' POSITION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK HAD RUPTURED AND ONLY FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED. TWENTY SEVEN GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK. EACH OF THE AUXILIARY TANKS CONTAINED LESS THAN ONE PINT OF FUEL. WITNESSES THREE MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED A DARK NIGHT. ENGINE TEST RUNS WERE PERFORMED ON BOTH ENGINES THROUGHOUT ALL POWER RANGES AND THERE WERE NO ANOMALIES FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. A REVIEW OF THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL DATA REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REPORTED THE AIRPLANE OUT OF CONTROL IN A FLAT SPIN. THE PILOT DID NOT REFUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE SECOND LEG OF HIS NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N153Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153Q-1993-09-27), registration cancelled 1993-09-27, S/N TC761 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55B
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-761
- Airframe hours: 3427
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-E2B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larocca, Victor T.
- Registered owner: Larocca, Victor T.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1992, 58 hours before
- Departed: OM6, BATESVILLE, MS
- Destination: BMT, BEAUMONT, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 629 total, 19 in this make and model, 558 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLU, 28 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 19921007042989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921007042989A), Oct 7, 1992: Beech 95B55, Chatham, LA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Indicates lost engine due fuel exhaustion. Got below VMC,stalled,spun in while trying start engine.

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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