# NTSB NYC07LA144: Beech T-34A, N55192, Maxton, NC, June 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2007, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Maxton, NC - Coordinates: 34.791942, -79.365837 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7919&lon=-79.3658&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66030/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA144 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis As the airplane turned base leg for the runway, about 650 feet above ground level (agl), the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and activated the fuel boost pump; however, the engine did not restart. He subsequently performed a forced landing in a field just prior to the runway. The fuel injected engine had accumulated 208 total hours of operation, and approximately 10 hours of operation since the airplane's last annual inspection. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The left and right wing fuel tanks remained intact, and approximately 10 gallons of fuel remained in both tanks. The wreckage was subsequently shipped to a repair facility, where a test run of the engine was performed. During the test run, the engine started on the first attempt, and ran continuously without hesitation. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2007, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Beech T-34A, N55192, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, after experiencing a total loss of engine power while on approach to Laurinburg-Maxton Airport (MEB), Maxton, North Carolina. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that the airplane turned base leg for runway 5, and was about 650 to 700 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot did not hear any unusual noises from the engine, and without warning, it lost all power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and activated the fuel boost pump; however, the engine did not restart. He subsequently landed in a field just prior to the runway. During the landing, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated that the fuel injected engine had accumulated 208 total hours of operation, and approximately 10 hours of operation since the airplane's last annual inspection. The pilot estimated that there were 9 gallons of fuel in each wing tank, for a total of 18 gallons, when the power loss occurred. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector noted that the left and right wing fuel tanks remained intact, and approximately 20 total gallons of fuel remained, with about 10 gallons in each wing fuel tank. The pilot subsequently shipped the wreckage to a repair facility in Indiana, where a test run of the engine was performed. During the test run, the engine started on the first attempt, and ran continuously without hesitation. The reported weather at the airport, at 1252, was: wind from 270 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 34 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 17 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55192](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55192), registered now, S/N G-749, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech T-34A - Registry model: [Beech T-34A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-t-34a) (registry code 1152008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G 749 - Airframe hours: 3285 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas N. Soodsma - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 11 hours before - Departed: PIT, Pittsburgh, PA - Destination: MEB, Maxton, NC - Airport: MEB, Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, runway 5, 6,489 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 24,629 total, 1,511 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: MEB ## 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 20070618010869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070618010869A), Jun 18, 2007: Beech T34A, Laurinburg, NC, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft departed pit enroute to vero beach, Florida with a planned fuel stop at the Laurinburg-maxton airport (meb) in Laurinburg, NC. While turning… 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.