# NTSB WPR20CA199: Beech D 45, N341MR, Ione, CA, June 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 3, 2020, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Ione, CA - Coordinates: 38.419998, -121.010002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4200&lon=-121.0100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 101502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101502/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101502 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA199 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D-45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1152012), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech D-45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1152012), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech D-45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1152012), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he planned to complete a cross-country flight and had estimated a total fuel consumption of 30 gallons. During his preflight inspection, the fuel gauges showed 13 gallons in the left fuel tank and 17 gallons in the right fuel tank. The pilot visually confirmed that each tank contained fuel and then added 10 gallons of fuel. As the pilot descended through 6,500 ft mean sea level about 10 nm south of the destination airport, the engine "sputtered" and then lost all power. According to the pilot, the fuel gauges showed no fuel in the left tank and 17 gallons of fuel in the right tank. After subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, he established a glide profile and made a forced landing in a field about 1 nm south of the airport. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Both fuel tanks were void of fuel and the fuel gauges indicated no fuel in the left tank and 5 gallons in the right tank. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. He further stated that his "best conclusion is that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation." ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he planned to complete a cross-country flight and had estimated a total fuel consumption of 30 gallons. During his preflight inspection, the fuel gauges showed 13 gallons in the left fuel tank and 17 gallons in the right fuel tank. The pilot visually confirmed that each tank contained fuel and then added 10 gallons of fuel. As the pilot descended through 6,500 ft mean sea level about 10 nm south of the destination airport, the engine "sputtered" and then lost all power. According to the pilot, the fuel gauges showed no fuel in the left tank and 17 gallons of fuel in the right tank. After subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, he established a glide profile and made a forced landing in a field about 1 nm south of the airport. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Both fuel tanks were void of fuel and the fuel gauges indicated no fuel in the left tank and 5 gallons in the right tank. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. He further stated that his "best conclusion is that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N341MR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341MR), registered now, S/N BG-65, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D 45 (B) - Registry model: [Beech D-45](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d-45) (registry code 1152012) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BG-65 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 13602 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B9 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2019, 47 hours before - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: CA20, Ione, CA - Airport: CA20, Eagle'S Nest, runway 01, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,954 total, 466 in this make and model, 3,160 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: 10 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101502. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9914569&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120f_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9914678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20accident%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9913473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.