# NTSB WPR18TA243: Beech 36, N9031S, Kelso, WA, August 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: August 18, 2018, 21:30 local (Aug 19, 2018, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Kelso, WA - Coordinates: 46.104167, -122.372779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1042&lon=-122.3728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98177/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98177 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA243 ## Probable cause The pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and the subsequent forced landing to a field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech 36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 36, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while en route to the destination airport during the personal flight, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, while the left fuel tank was full. The pilot stated that he did not remember switching fuel tanks during the flight and that, given that the right fuel tank was empty, he likely ran out of fuel. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2018, about 2130 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 36, N9031S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Washington Regional Airport (KLS), Kelso, Washington. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had filled both fuel tanks the night before the accident; he estimated that he had over three hours of fuel for the cross-country flight the following evening. While en route to the destination airport the engine lost power, which resulted in an off airport landing in a field. A postaccident onsite examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that no visible fuel was observed in the right side fuel tank. He then sumped the tank and no fuel was expelled. When he performed a visual inspection of the left side fuel tank, it appeared to be full. The pilot subsequently stated that based on the evidence of the right fuel tank being empty, he probably ran out of fuel. The pilot also mentioned that he could not remember switching fuel tanks. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9031S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9031S-2020-10-24), registration cancelled 2020-10-24, S/N E-117, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Beech 36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-36) (registry code 1151602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-117 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 6391.4 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2018, 4 hours before - Departed: TIW, Tacoma, WA - Destination: PDX, Portland, OR - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 559 total, 135 in this make and model, 478 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KLS, 1 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 20180818014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180818014449A), Aug 18, 2018: Beech 36, Kelso, WA, Substantial damage. Flight originated from Boeing field, with a stop at tacoma, enroute to portland. Just south of the Southwest Washington Regional (kls) airfield, the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N9031S (2) 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. - [NTSB MIA86LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA201), Jul 6, 1986: Beech 36 (N9031S), Marco Island, FL, destroyed - [NTSB NYC85LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA172), Jul 14, 1985: Beech 36 (N9031S), Calverton, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98177. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Onsite Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Onsite%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Interview with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Fuel Receipt (item 4, .PDF, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.