# NTSB LAX92LA001: Beech A36TC, N140KB, Dunsmuir, CA, October 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1991, 11:35 local (18:35 UTC)
- Place: Dunsmuir, CA
- Coordinates: 41.190338, -122.260208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1903&lon=-122.2602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27463/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA001

## Probable cause

1) IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, 2) FAILURE OF THE OWNER TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, 3) OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE OWNER AND A MECHANIC AT A KNOWN FUEL STATE BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF, AND 4) FAILURE OF THE MECHANIC TO ASSURE THAT HE HAD ADEQUATE FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED ON A PREVIOUS FLT. AT DUNSMUIR, IT WAS PARKED TIL THE NEXT WEEK WHEN MAINT WAS PERFORMED FOR A LOW MANIFOLD PRES PRBLM. THE OWNER ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT TO REDDING FOR AN ANNUAL INSP. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS AT LEAST 9 GALS OF USABLE FUEL REMAINING. HE THEN FLEW TO REDDING & PICKED UP A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS TO FLY BACK TO DUNSMUIR WITH THE PLT, THEN RTRN THE ACFT TO REDDING. BFR DEPG FM REDDING, THE MECHANIC LOOKED INSIDE BOTH FUEL TANKS WHILE THE ENG WAS RUNNING & SAW NO FUEL IN THE RGT TANK & SOME FUEL IN THE L TANK. AT DUNSMUIR, THE OWNER DEPLANED & THE MECHANIC DEPD ON THE 15 TO 20 MIN FLT BACK TO REDDING. THE PLT (MECHANIC) SAID THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING ABT 5 MI FM THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. ATMTS TO GET IT RESTARTED WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HE TURNED BACK TWD THE ARPT, BUT THE ACFT CRASH LANDED SHORT OF THE RWY. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FND IN THE FUEL TANKS; FUEL SYS CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, A MIN OF 13 GAL WAS REQD IN EACH FUEL TANK BFR TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140KB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140KB), registered now, S/N EA 36, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-36
- Airframe hours: 1756
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-4B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Lutz, Thorsten
- Registered owner: Abreu, Dennis A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1990, 35 hours before
- Destination: RDD, REDDING, CA
- Airport: 106, Dunsmuir, runway 32, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,413 total, 636 in this make and model, 1,302 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F

## 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 19911001044419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911001044419A), Oct 1, 1991: Beech A36TC, Dunsmuir, CA, Substantial damage. Departed with known low fuel. Engine quit on climbout due fuel exhaustion. Tried to return but crashed short.

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.