- Date
- October 9, 2019, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Somerville, TN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2177WBeech 19
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- FAA report
- 20191009017529A
- Case key
- 100396
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to move the fuel selector position to the "on" position before takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and necessitated a forced landing to a field shortly after takeoff, and his subsequent improper decision to take off from unsuitable terrain, which resulted in collision with an embankment and a postcrash fire.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the engine "shut down" due to the fuel selector being in the "off" position. Subsequently, he made a forced landing to a field adjacent to the runway. He moved the fuel selector to the "on" position and then initiated a soft-field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane collided with an embankment, and it momentarily ascended before landing hard and then coming to rest upright. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane, and the fuel tanks ruptured. A fire ensued, which consumed the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors, the pilot reported that he initiated a soft-field takeoff, with the intent of flying out of the field after making a forced landing. During the takeoff roll, the airplane collided with an embankment and the airplane momentarily ascended before landing hard. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane, "causing a rupture in the fuel tanks." The airplane came to rest upright, but a fire erupted, "under the right wing" according to pilot. The airplane was consumed by fire and sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2177W
- Reported as
- Beech 19 (B19)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- MB-694
- Built
- 1974
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 3,203 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 30, 2019
- Departed
- FYE · Somerville, TN
- Destination
- 1M7 · Fulton, KY
- Airport
- FYE · Fayette County
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 5 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KM08, 17 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.