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NTSB Report
October 1, 1991 · Beech A36TC · N140KB
Dunsmuir, CA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 1, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Dunsmuir, CA
Aircraft
Beech A36TC
Tail Number
N140KB
Operator
Lutz Thorsten
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX92LA001
THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED ON A PREVIOUS FLT. AT DUNSMUIR, IT WAS PARKED TIL THE NEXT WEEK WHEN MAINT WAS PERFORMED FOR A LOW MANIFOLD PRES PRBLM. THE OWNER ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT TO REDDING FOR AN ANNUAL INSP. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS AT LEAST 9 GALS OF USABLE FUEL REMAINING. HE THEN FLEW TO REDDING & PICKED UP A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS TO FLY BACK TO DUNSMUIR WITH THE PLT, THEN RTRN THE ACFT TO REDDING. BFR DEPG FM REDDING, THE MECHANIC LOOKED INSIDE BOTH FUEL TANKS WHILE THE ENG WAS RUNNING & SAW NO FUEL IN THE RGT TANK & SOME FUEL IN THE L TANK. AT DUNSMUIR, THE OWNER DEPLANED & THE MECHANIC DEPD ON THE 15 TO 20 MIN FLT BACK TO REDDING. THE PLT (MECHANIC) SAID THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING ABT 5 MI FM THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. ATMTS TO GET IT RESTARTED WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HE TURNED BACK TWD THE ARPT, BUT THE ACFT CRASH LANDED SHORT OF THE RWY. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FND IN THE FUEL TANKS; FUEL SYS CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, A MIN OF 13 GAL WAS REQD IN EACH FUEL TANK BFR TAKEOFF.
NTSB Probable Cause
1) IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, 2) FAILURE OF THE OWNER TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, 3) OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE OWNER AND A MECHANIC AT A KNOWN FUEL STATE BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF, AND 4) FAILURE OF THE MECHANIC TO ASSURE THAT HE HAD ADEQUATE FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED ON A PREVIOUS FLT. AT DUNSMUIR, IT WAS PARKED TIL THE NEXT WEEK WHEN MAINT WAS PERFORMED FOR A LOW MANIFOLD PRES PRBLM. THE OWNER ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT TO REDDING FOR AN ANNUAL INSP. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS AT LEAST 9 GALS OF USABLE FUEL REMAINING. HE THEN FLEW TO REDDING & PICKED UP A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS TO FLY BACK TO DUNSMUIR WITH THE PLT, THEN RTRN THE ACFT TO REDDING. BFR DEPG FM REDDING, THE MECHANIC LOOKED INSIDE BOTH FUEL TANKS WHILE THE ENG WAS RUNNING & SAW NO FUEL IN THE RGT TANK & SOME FUEL IN THE L TANK. AT DUNSMUIR, THE OWNER DEPLANED & THE MECHANIC DEPD ON THE 15 TO 20 MIN FLT BACK TO REDDING. THE PLT (MECHANIC) SAID THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING ABT 5 MI FM THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. ATMTS TO GET IT RESTARTED WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HE TURNED BACK TWD THE ARPT, BUT THE ACFT CRASH LANDED SHORT OF THE RWY. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FND IN THE FUEL TANKS; FUEL SYS CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, A MIN OF 13 GAL WAS REQD IN EACH FUEL TANK BFR TAKEOFF.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:35 PDT
Nearest AirportDUNSMUIR (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBeech A36TC
Tail NumberN140KB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLutz Thorsten
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-4B · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility35 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT