# NTSB WPR09LA396: Beech A60, N99BE, Minidoka, ID, August 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2009, 15:41 local (21:41 UTC) - Place: Minidoka, ID - Coordinates: 42.979442, -113.344718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9794&lon=-113.3447&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA396 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot ## Analysis The pilot reported that he planned to fly a round trip cross-country flight. Prior to takeoff, he ascertained the quantity of fuel on board based upon the airplane's fuel totalizer gauge indication, which indicated 89 gallons. The flight to the destination was uneventful, and upon landing, 20 gallons of fuel was purchased. Thereafter, the pilot departed for the return flight back to his originating airport. According to the pilot, on takeoff the fuel tank gauges indicated the tanks were between 1/3 and 1/4 full. While cruising, the pilot contacted an air traffic control facility and notified them that he had lost power in one engine. About 5 minutes later, the pilot broadcasted that both engines were without power. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot landed on soft, uneven terrain. During rollout, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. The calculated post accident fuel burn-off for the round trip flight was about 106 gallons. During the post accident inspection, an FAA inspector reported finding an estimated 2 gallons of fuel in one tank. The other tank was dry. No fuel was observed in the main fuel lines to the engines, and no mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2009, about 1541 mountain daylight time, a Beech A60, N99BE, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising en route to Pocatello, Idaho. The pilot diverted to the airport nearest his location, and he made a forced landing in an open field about 1/4 mile from the Bear Trap Airport, Minidoka, Idaho. The airplane nosed over during rollout and was substantially damaged. Nestor Aviation & Aerobatics, LLC., Chubbuck, Idaho, owned and operated the airplane. The commercial certificated pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Boise, Idaho, about 1430. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, earlier in the day, he had departed Boise with a total of 89 gallons of fuel in his airplane, according to its fuel gauges. The pilot believed that upon landing in Pocatello, 57 gallons of fuel remained in the fuel tanks. The flight from Boise to Pocatello consumed 32 gallons of fuel. Prior to departing Pocatello for the approximate 190-mile return (accident) flight to Boise, the pilot added 20 gallons of fuel to the airplane. [Note: Based upon the reported 89 gallons of fuel in the airplane when the flight commenced, and the 20 gallons subsequently added, the airplane's tanks contained a total of 109 gallons of fuel.] The pilot stated to the Safety Board investigator that, during his preflight preparations, he relied on the airplane's fuel tank gauges and its fuel totalizer to ascertain the quantity of fuel on board. He opined the airplane had about 77 gallons of fuel in its tanks upon his 1430 takeoff. The pilot stated that, on takeoff, the fuel tank gauges indicated the tanks were between 1/3 and 1/4 full. En route to Boise, the pilot observed that the fuel tank gauges decremented as the flight progressed, and they eventually indicated the tanks were about 1/4 full. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator, at 1536 the pilot made a radio transmission to an air traffic control facility during which he stated that he had lost power in one engine. The pilot headed toward Bear Trap, the nearest airport, which was located about 39 miles short of his intended destination. About 5 minutes later, the pilot broadcast that both engines were without power. The pilot made a forced landing about 1/4 mile from Bear Trap. The airplane touched down in the underlying uneven, soft terrain and nosed over. The FAA coordinator subsequently inspected the airplane and reported finding an estimated 2 gallons of fuel in one tank; the other tank was dry. No fuel was observed in the main fuel lines to the engines. The FAA coordinator further reported that the airplane's last annual inspection was performed at least 7 years prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported that duringthe past 6 years, the airplane was operated a total of 100 hours. Regarding the pilot's currency, the pilot reported that his last flight review was recorded in 2002, and his last aviation medical certificate was issued in 2004. Under the direction of the Safety Board investigator, fuel consumption computations for the pilot's flight route were performed by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. Based upon Beech's data, an A60 would be expected to consume about 56 gallons of fuel flying from Boise to Pocatello, and about 50 gallons of fuel for the return flight, for a total of about 106 gallons. The pilot acknowledged in his completed "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report" that no mechanical malfunctions or failures had occurred, and that "…the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion." ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99BE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99BE-2010-10-08), registration cancelled 2010-10-08, S/N P-132, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A60 - Registry model: [Beech A60](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a60) (registry code 1153604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-541 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-541-series) (registry code 41536, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P-132 - Airframe hours: 3120 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-541-E1C4 380 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-541-E1C4 380 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PIH, Pocatello, ID - Destination: BOI, Boise, ID - Airport: 1U0, Bear Trap, runway 24, 2,250 × 120 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: BYI, 31 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 20090813012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090813012879A), Aug 13, 2009: Beech A60, Minidoka, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 13, 2009 at 1603 the regional pocatello tower received an emergnecy call from N99BE stating he had his r/h engine shutdown in flight. Within… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74521. 765 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Extract of FAA E-mail (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20of%20FAA%20E-mail-Master.PDF - Extract of E-mail Between NTSB & PILOT (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20of%20E-mail%20Between%20NTSB%20%26%20PILOT-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane, right side, upside down (FAA Photo). (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328819&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane,%20right%20side,%20upside%20down%20(FAA%20Photo).-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Airplane, front view, upside down in field (FAA Photo). (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Airplane,%20front%20view,%20upside%20down%20in%20field%20(FAA%20Photo).-Master.PDF 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.