# NTSB GAA16CA020: Beech A36, N4151Q, Jasper, TX, October 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2015, 02:18 local (07:18 UTC) - Place: Jasper, TX - Coordinates: 30.828887, -94.184448 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8289&lon=-94.1844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92204/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92204 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and ditching the airplane in a lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Beech A36, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a night cross county flight, the first airport he landed at did not have fuel. He departed the airport for another airport that did have fuel. While en route, he stated that "the engine spluttered and failed to restart even after switching tanks and trying all emergency check list procedures." The pilot ditched the airplane in a lake; the occupants egressed from the airplane, and swam to shore without further incident. Upon recovery from the lake, the airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage. The assigned Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector reported that when the airplane recovery personnel examined the airplane after the recovery from the lake, only one fuel tank had fuel located inside, approximately one quart. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a night cross county flight, the first airport he landed at did not have fuel. He departed the airport for another airport that did have fuel. While en route, he stated that "the engine spluttered and failed to restart even after switching tanks and trying all emergency check list procedures." The pilot ditched the airplane in a lake; the occupants egressed from the airplane, and swam to shore without further incident. Upon recovery from the lake, the airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage. The assigned Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector reported that when the airplane recovery personnel examined the airplane after the recovery from the lake, only one fuel tank had fuel located inside, approximately one quart. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4151Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4151Q-2021-11-06), registration cancelled 2021-11-06, S/N E-2679, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2679 - Year built: 1992 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-550B15B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific Air Center LLC - Registered owner: Pacific Air Center LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2014 - Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX - Destination: JAS, JASPER, TX - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 487.2 total, 13.3 in this make and model, 418.7 as pilot in command, 68.3 in the last 90 days, 34.7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KJAS, 8 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92204. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434433&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-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.