# NTSB MIA04LA120: Beech 65-A90, N45TT, Pensacola, FL, August 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2004, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Pensacola, FL - Coordinates: 30.398889, -87.348609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3989&lon=-87.3486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning/decision and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in fuel exhaustion and an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - 1 engine - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was proceeding to a nearby airport to refuel, and during the takeoff from his departure airport, about 3 to 4 seconds after rotating, the right engine ceased operating due to fuel exhaustion. He said that the airplane drifted to the right, and he feathered the right propeller and turned to the right in order to return to the runway. After leveling, he said the airplane started to climb so he reduced power, and as he did so the airspeed dropped to 80 knots, and the stall warning light was activated. He said he added full power to recover, and the aircraft veered radically to the right in the direction of the hangars. Keeping the landing gear in the up position, he said he performed a belly landing and the airplane incurred damage. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2004, about 1515 central daylight time, N45TT, a Beech King Air 65-A90, registered to and operated by Eclipse Enterprises Inc., as a Title 14 CFR part 91 business flight, crashed while returning to land at Ferguson Airport, Pensacola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, and one passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was flying the accident airplane from Ferguson Airport, Pensacola, Florida, to Jack Edwards Airport, Gulf Shores, Alabama, to refuel, and during the takeoff, immediately after rotating, he tapped the brakes, raised the landing gear, and about 3 to 4 seconds later the right engine ceased operating. He stated that he was sure the engine ceased operating due to fuel exhaustion, because he knew the airplane was low on fuel. After the right engine ceased operating, the airplane drifted right, and he inputted full left rudder, and placed left wing down to correct. He then confirmed that the right engine was spooling down, and feathered the propeller on the right engine. He then started a turn to the side of the operating engine to return to the airport. As he rolled the wings level, he said the airplane started to climb, so he reduced power after clearing the trees, and at that time the rate of descent increased. He said the airplane's speed was about 80 knots and the stall warning light began flickering on and off, and it also felt as if he was falling out of the sky. The pilot added full power which caused the nose to veer radically to the right, and the airplane descended, heading toward some T-hangars. He kept the landing gear retracted, and attempted to land the airplane on its belly to keep from colliding with the hangar. In doing so, both the wing and nose of the aircraft struck the ground. The pilot reported that there had been no indications of any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45TT-2007-08-23), registration cancelled 2007-08-23, S/N LJ-312, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 65-A90 - Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-312 - Airframe hours: 10701.5 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 500 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eclipse Entrprises Inc., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2004, 30 hours before - Departed: 82J, Pensacola, FL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: 82J, Ferguson Field, runway 18R, 3,200 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 24, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,254 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,228 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 8 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 20040817018699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040817018699A), Aug 17, 2004: Beech 65A90, Pensacola, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1712 CDT, N45TT, departed Pensacola Ferguson, 82J, on runway 36 enroute to jack edwards, jka, for the purpose of refueling. After… 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.