Beechcraft D55 N44DC

Summary

On 21 December 2021 at about 20:20 local time, a Beechcraft D55 registered N44DC, operated by GTA Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Hamilton, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 December 2021 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Hamilton, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Marion County-Rankin Fite (HAB)

Coordinates

34.0938, -88.0036

Aircraft

Beechcraft D55

Registration

N44DC

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

2

Operator

GTA Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Memphis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA092

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a loss of engine power on the left engine 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 described that at the conclusion of the positioning flight she amended her initial plan to enter the traffic pattern at the destination airport due to potential conflicts with other traffic, and instead completed an entry into a left downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The sequence of events left her “task saturated” and she failed to complete the before-landing checklist and properly configure the twin-engine airplane’s fuel system for landing by switching from the auxiliary to the main fuel tanks. While on final approach to the runway the airplane’s left engine lost power and the airplane began a “lazy Vmc roll to the left.” The pilot attempted to continue ahead toward the runway, but realized that the airplane would not be able to clear power lines, so she maneuvered for a forced landing, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane at the accident site conformed that the left fuel selector was in the “Aux[iliary]” position. Published in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook and placarded between the fuel selectors was: “USE AUX TANKS AND CROSSFEED IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY.” Given this information, it is likely that the pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane’s fuel system while maneuvering for landing resulted in a loss of engine power to the airplane’s left engine due to fuel starvation and the subsequent forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.