Beechcraft D50E N107WB

Summary

On 6 April 2007 at about 19:30 local time, a Beechcraft D50E registered N107WB, operated by Magnolia Flight Services Incorporated, was involved in an accident near Decatur, Alabama, United States. 4 people were 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.

Date

6 April 2007 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Decatur, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Pryor Field (DCU)

Coordinates

34.6522, -86.9406

Aircraft

Beechcraft D50E

Registration

N107WB

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Magnolia Flight Services Incorporated

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Augusta → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07CA068

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in failure of both engines due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on the cross country flight using the fuel from both main fuel tanks. Approximately one half hour into the flight the pilot stated that he switched both engines to the auxiliary fuel tanks. Two hours into the flight the right engine ran out of fuel. He switched the right fuel selector back to the main tank and turned on the electric boost pump. The engine surged and quit again. The pilot contacted air traffic control for a heading to the nearest airport and turned 180 degrees toward Pryor Field, Decatur, Alabama. The left engine stopped, and he turned the left engine fuel selector to the left main tank. He turned on the electric fuel boost pump and the engine failed to start. The pilot advised air traffic control that he had a fuel problem, and would not make it to the airport. He feathered the propellers and made an emergency landing in a field. After the forced landing the pilot and occupants exited the airplane uninjured. The pilot inspected both right fuel tanks and found both tanks empty. He inspected the left auxiliary tank and found it full and the left main was found with a lot of fuel. He reported that when he switched the fuel tanks to auxiliary positions he must have accidentally place the left fuel selector in the cross feed position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.