Beechcraft D50A N3BE
26 July 1997 · Mitchell, Nebraska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 26 July 1997 at about 23:30 local time, a Beechcraft D50A registered N3BE, operated by James Adams, was involved in an accident near Mitchell, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mitchell, Nebraska, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.9400, -103.8002
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft D50A
- Registration
- N3BE
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- James Adams
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Torrington → Scottsbluff
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI97LA226
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
the pilot's improper fuel selector position and the fuel starvation. Factors contributing to the accident were: the pilot's inattentiveness of the refueling, inadequate aircraft preflight, and the rough terrain/ditch.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After performing maintenance work on the aircraft, the pilot had the aircraft fueled. 25 gallons of fuel were put into each outboard auxiliary tank. The fueler reported that the pilot removed the outboard fuel caps and he filled those tanks; the pilot then replaced the fuel caps after fueling was completed. The pilot stated he 'failed to recheck fueling and individual tanks.' The main tanks located on the inside of the engine nacelle were not filled. The pilot did a run up and partial power taxi, returned, checked the engines for leaks, and departed. After leveling off at 1500' above ground level and 10 minutes en route, the left engine lost power. The pilot switched to the auxiliary tank, the engine gained power but then quit. The pilot prepared for landing and landed in a rough field. The right main gear and nose gear came off and the fuselage wrinkled behind the cockpit. The pilot reported the next day that he checked the left main tank and found it to be 'bone dry.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft D50A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1992 | Beechcraft D50A | Ely, Nevada, United States | James L. Richards | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Oct 1985 | Beechcraft D50A | T/C, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1969 | Beechcraft D50A | Alturas, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1968 | Beechcraft D50A | Kenai, Alaska, United States | Kenai Air Serv | Fatal | 3 |
| 30 Apr 1968 | Beechcraft D50A | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Carco Air Serv | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1967 | Beechcraft D50A | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Racine Charter | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 1997 | Piper PA-25-235A | O'neil, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1997 | Cessna 188B | Adams, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1997 | Cessna A188A | Norfolk, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1997 | Cessna A188B | Elwood, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1997 | Piper PA-25-235 | Bradshaw, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1997 | Aero Commander 100-180 | Auburn, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |