# NTSB SEA87IA139: Beech 55, N321MB, Rigby, ID, July 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1987, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Rigby, ID
- Coordinates: 43.690425, -111.87078 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6904&lon=-111.8708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87IA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40547/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87IA139

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fuel system - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - incorrect (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING DESCENT FOR LANDING, WITH BOTH ENGINES BEING FED FROM THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK, A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A WHEAT FIELD AND DURING LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL REMAINING ON BOARD IN EITHER THE AUX TANKS OR THE MAIN TANKS. HOWEVER, WITH THE MASTER SWITCH ON, THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL GAUGE READ MORE THAN 1/4 TANK REMAINING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N321MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321MB-1989-05-11), registration cancelled 1989-05-11, S/N TC1114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC1114
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL I0-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Karen Pfeiffer
- Registered owner: Karen Pfeiffer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1987
- Departed: WYS, W.YELLOWSTONE, MT
- Destination: IDA, IDAHO FALLS, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,891 total, 131 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19870715034769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870715034769A), Jul 15, 1987: Beech 95B55, Idaho Falls, ID, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel. Forced landing in a field. Struck a ditch on rollout.

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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