- Date
- January 14, 1993, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hanksville, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N550THBeech 58P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930114000549A
- Case key
- 42975
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An improper fuel selector valve position, fuel starvation, and inadequate remedial action. Factors include soft, rough terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in cruising flight, the pilot noticed that the gauges indicated a fuel imbalance. As the imbalance indication became greater, the pilot began to search for a suitable nearby alternate. Finding the nearest alternate to be below approach minimums, and being convinced that the imbalance was only an indication problem, he elected to continue on to the original destination. When both engines quit, the left gauge was at 0, and the right gauge was indicating near full. During the restart attempts, the pilot failed to select either engine to the right fuel tank, which was later found to contain fuel. When examined at the scene of the accident, the position of both fuel valves correctly matched the position of the corresponding fuel selector lever. Further investigation revealed no malfunction, damage, or discrepancies with either valve.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N550TH
- Reported as
- Beech 58P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TJ-385
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Montelena Associates Limited
- Registered owner
- Montelena Associates Limited
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1993
- Departed
- O41 · Woodland, CA
- Destination
- PUB · Pueblo, CO
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- HVE · Hanksville Airport
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,758 total · 211 in this make and model · 3,008 as pilot in command · 151 in the last 90 days · 43 in the last 30 days · 2.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.