Beechcraft A36 N36PS

Summary

On 27 January 2019 at about 22:34 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N36PS was involved in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas, United States. 2 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

27 January 2019 at 22:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Worth Meacham Internation (FTW)

Coordinates

32.7558, -97.2978

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N36PS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Angel Fire → Arlington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19TA073

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a 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 stated that before departure, both fuel tanks were 3/4 full and that he maintained fuel balance by switching between the left and right tanks "several times" during the flight. As he approached his destination, he requested and received vectors for a practice instrument approach to a nearby airport but then requested termination of the approach and said he would proceed to his original destination. Shortly after the airplane climbed to 1,500 ft (900 ft above ground level), the engine lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector "to the other tank" and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He stated that he did not turn on the electric boost pump (as required in the emergency checklist) and that the airplane was too low to the ground for him to reference the emergency checklist. He lowered the landing gear but did not lower the flaps for landing. The airplane touched down on soft earth, and the nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the nose. An unknown quantity of fuel was drained from the left tank, and the right tank was empty. The fuel that was sumped from the airplane's left tank appeared to be clear, bright, and free of contaminants. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operations. It is likely the engine lost power due to fuel starvation and the pilot failed to switch fuel tanks before exhausting the fuel in the right tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.