# NTSB GAA17CA058: Beech 58TC, N2CH, Valdosta, GA, November 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 5, 2016, 16:43 local (20:43 UTC) - Place: Valdosta, GA - Coordinates: 30.781389, -83.276107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7814&lon=-83.2761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94347/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94347 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA058 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that adequate fuel was onboard for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## 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 58TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1152746), [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 58TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1152746), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech 58TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1152746), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 58TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1152746), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Beech 58TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1152746), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [After landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 58TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1152746), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the twin-engine airplane, he descended from 7,000 ft and leveled off at 3,000 ft. After leveling off, the fuel quantity indicators fluctuated then showed empty. He recalled that, about 5 minutes after leveling off, the right engine began to run very roughly, so he enriched the right engine's mixture and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. He added that, subsequently, "the right engine failed and the left engine simultaneously began losing power." The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control, began receiving vectors, and the left engine lost power. The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide distance. He selected the nearest suitable landing area, extended the landing gear and flaps, and landed the airplane in a field. During the landing roll, he turned the airplane to the right to avoid a collision with obstacles, and the nose landing gear bounced several times and separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage bulkheads, longerons, and stringers. The pilot believed that, due to his failure to visually check the fuel level, he overestimated the amount of fuel on board. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the twin-engine airplane, he was descended from 7,000 ft. and leveled off at 3,000 ft. After leveling off, the fuel quantity indicators fluctuated then showed empty. He recalled that about 5 minutes after leveling off, the right engine began to run very rough, so he enriched the right engine's mixture, and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. Subsequently, "the right engine failed and the left engine simultaneously began losing power". The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control, began receiving vectors, and the left engine lost power. The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide distance. He selected the nearest suitable landing area, extended the landing gear and flaps, and landed the airplane in a field. During the landing roll, he turned the airplane to the right to avoid a collision with obstacles, the nose landing gear bounced several times and separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage bulkheads, longerons and stringers. The pilot believed that due to his failure to visually check the fuel level, he overestimated the amount of fuel on board. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2CH-2019-01-29), registration cancelled 2019-01-29, S/N TK-72, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58TC - Registry model: [Beech 58TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58tc) (registry code 1152746) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (registry code 17039, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TK-72 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 4654 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: H3 Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: H3 Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2016 - Departed: KCAE, Columbia, SC - Destination: 4J5, Quitman, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 515 total, 85 in this make and model, 484 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KVLD ## 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 20161105018039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161105018039A), Nov 5, 2016: Beech 58TC, Nashville, GA, Substantial damage. On November 05, 2016, at approximately 1630 local time a Beechcraft baron aircraft model B58TC serial number TK-72 ?call sign? N2CH ran out of fuel made an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94347. 972 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Repair Estimate (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Repair%20Estimate-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%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.