Cessna 401 N13DT

Summary

On 12 September 1991 at about 00:02 local time, a Cessna 401 registered N13DT, operated by Montague, Harvey L., was involved in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 September 1991 at 00:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

McKellar Field (MKL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 401

Registration

N13DT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Montague, Harvey L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ATL91LA172

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE APPROACH, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AND WAS PROCEEDING TO THE AIRPORT VISUALLY. DURING HIS APPROACH, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT ENGINE. HE THEN REALIZED THAT HE HAD FAILED TO SWITCH FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE APPROACH, AND EXHAUSTED THE AUXILIARY FUEL SUPPLY. WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO ATTEMPT A RESTART, HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A BEAN FIELD SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, THE OCCUPANTS EGRESSED, AND THE FUSELAGE WAS CONSUMED IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.