Beechcraft 95B55 N323MT

Summary

On 25 March 2019 at about 16:10 local time, a Beechcraft 95B55 registered N323MT was involved in an accident near Clewiston, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 2019 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Clewiston, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.3236, -80.9433

Aircraft

Beechcraft 95B55

Registration

N323MT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → St Petersburg-Clearwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19LA136

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to perform the appropriate emergency checklists following the loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a cross-country flight with the fuel selectors set to the main fuel tanks. Upon reaching a cruise altitude of 6,000 ft, the left engine lost total power. The pilot tried to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, the right engine lost total power. The pilot reported that he did not use the emergency checklist or switch the fuel selector to another tank, as he was too busy trying to restart the engines. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted an irrigation ditch, resulting in substantial damage. The fuel selector was found set to the main fuel tanks, which were devoid of fuel. However, measurable fuel was found in the remaining two auxiliary tanks. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given the available evidence, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to the pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation. It is also likely that, had the pilot completed the emergency checklist for a loss of engine power/engine restart, fuel flow and engine power would have been restored.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.