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NTSB Report
May 26, 1989 · Beech D55 · N8450N
Greenwood, IN
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1989
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (2 fatalities, 3 serious injuries)
Location
Greenwood, IN
Aircraft
Beech D55
Tail Number
N8450N
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC89FA116
THE PLT & PAX WERE ON A FLT FM SIOUX FALLS (FSD), SD TO INDIANAPOLIS (IND), IN, TO ATND THE INDY 500 RACE. SINCE TFC WASHVY, AN ARRIVAL RESERVATION PROGRAM WAS IN EFFECT AT IND. THE PLT RPRTD HE DEPD FSD WITH THE MAIN FUEL TANKS FULL & THE AUX TANKS FILLED TO ABT 2' BLO THE FILLER NECKS. AN UNSCHED STOP WAS MADE AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (CFJ), APRX 35 MI NW OF IND.AT CFJ, THE PLT ORDERED FUEL & CALLED FSS TO GET A NEW ARRIVAL TIME AT IND, BUT DIDN'T VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL BFR TAKE-OFF. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 31 APCH TO IND, THE PLT RPRTD A MAJOR FUEL PROBLEM. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG(S) LOSING PWR. THE ACFT WAS MNVRD TO LND IN A SPORTS FLD; HOWEVER, IT IMPACTED SHORT OF THE FLD & HIT A STUMP, STACK OF BRICKS & FENCING/BACKSTOP BFR COMING TO REST ON FIRE. NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND. THE FLAPS & LNDG GEAR WERE FND RETRACTED. THE FBO AT CFJ STATED THE OUTBOARD (AUX) TANKS SVCD WITH 55 GAL OF FUEL PER P INSTRUCTIONS (MAINS NOT SVCD). THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE FND PSND TO THE MAIN TANKS. FUEL SAMPLES CHECKED NORMAL, THOUGH FUEL ATNDNT INDCD PSBL JET FUEL.
NTSB Probable Cause
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SELF INDUCED PRESSURE BY THE PILOT TO MEET AN ARRIVAL TIME, HIS FAILURE TO EXTEND THE FLAPS BEFORE LANDING, AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TREE STUMP, STACK OF BRICKS, AND FENCING/BACKSTOP) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Full Narrative
THE PLT & PAX WERE ON A FLT FM SIOUX FALLS (FSD), SD TO INDIANAPOLIS (IND), IN, TO ATND THE INDY 500 RACE. SINCE TFC WASHVY, AN ARRIVAL RESERVATION PROGRAM WAS IN EFFECT AT IND. THE PLT RPRTD HE DEPD FSD WITH THE MAIN FUEL TANKS FULL & THE AUX TANKS FILLED TO ABT 2' BLO THE FILLER NECKS. AN UNSCHED STOP WAS MADE AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (CFJ), APRX 35 MI NW OF IND.AT CFJ, THE PLT ORDERED FUEL & CALLED FSS TO GET A NEW ARRIVAL TIME AT IND, BUT DIDN'T VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL BFR TAKE-OFF. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 31 APCH TO IND, THE PLT RPRTD A MAJOR FUEL PROBLEM. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG(S) LOSING PWR. THE ACFT WAS MNVRD TO LND IN A SPORTS FLD; HOWEVER, IT IMPACTED SHORT OF THE FLD & HIT A STUMP, STACK OF BRICKS & FENCING/BACKSTOP BFR COMING TO REST ON FIRE. NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND. THE FLAPS & LNDG GEAR WERE FND RETRACTED. THE FBO AT CFJ STATED THE OUTBOARD (AUX) TANKS SVCD WITH 55 GAL OF FUEL PER P INSTRUCTIONS (MAINS NOT SVCD). THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE FND PSND TO THE MAIN TANKS. FUEL SAMPLES CHECKED NORMAL, THOUGH FUEL ATNDNT INDCD PSBL JET FUEL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway31
Runway Length7604 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBeech D55
Tail NumberN8450N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-C · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary5 injuries (2 fatalities, 3 serious injuries)
Fatal2
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 10 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:54
Weather SourceWFAC