# NTSB MKC89FA116: Beech D55, N8450N, Greenwood, IN, May 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1989, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Greenwood, IN
- Coordinates: 39.609851, -86.110649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6099&lon=-86.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34685/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89FA116

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  SELF INDUCED PRESSURE BY THE PILOT TO MEET AN ARRIVAL TIME, HIS FAILURE TO EXTEND THE FLAPS BEFORE LANDING, AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TREE STUMP, STACK OF BRICKS, AND FENCING/BACKSTOP) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - wheels up landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX WERE ON A FLT FM SIOUX FALLS (FSD), SD TO INDIANAPOLIS (IND), IN, TO ATND THE INDY 500 RACE. SINCE TFC WASHVY, AN ARRIVAL RESERVATION PROGRAM WAS IN EFFECT AT IND. THE PLT RPRTD HE DEPD FSD WITH THE MAIN FUEL TANKS FULL & THE AUX TANKS FILLED TO ABT 2' BLO THE FILLER NECKS. AN UNSCHED STOP WAS MADE AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (CFJ), APRX 35 MI NW OF IND.AT CFJ, THE PLT ORDERED FUEL & CALLED FSS TO GET A NEW ARRIVAL TIME AT IND, BUT DIDN'T VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL BFR TAKE-OFF. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 31 APCH TO IND, THE PLT RPRTD A MAJOR FUEL PROBLEM. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG(S) LOSING PWR. THE ACFT WAS MNVRD TO LND IN A SPORTS FLD; HOWEVER, IT IMPACTED SHORT OF THE FLD & HIT A STUMP, STACK OF BRICKS & FENCING/BACKSTOP BFR COMING TO REST ON FIRE. NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND. THE FLAPS & LNDG GEAR WERE FND RETRACTED. THE FBO AT CFJ STATED THE OUTBOARD (AUX) TANKS SVCD WITH 55 GAL OF FUEL PER P INSTRUCTIONS (MAINS NOT SVCD). THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE FND PSND TO THE MAIN TANKS. FUEL SAMPLES CHECKED NORMAL, THOUGH FUEL ATNDNT INDCD PSBL JET FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8450N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8450N-1992-05-19), registration cancelled 1992-05-19, S/N TE569 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-569
- Airframe hours: 5487
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hegg International, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1988, 94 hours before
- Departed: CFJ, CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 31, 7,604 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 10 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 19890526012969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890526012969A), May 26, 1989: Beech D55, Greenwood, IN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates ran tank dry,was unable to handle engine out or switch tanks. Crashed. Overshot open area into obstacles.

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.

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