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December 26, 2024 · Beech BE-76 NO Series · N76NN

Melbourne, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 26, 2024
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Melbourne, FL
Aircraft
Beech BE-76 NO Series (1979)
Tail Number
N76NN
Operator
Melbourne Flight Training
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA25LA084

The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were flying the multi-engine airplane on a long cross-country trip. At an intermediate stop, the pilot had the airplane serviced to a total fuel quantity of 60 gallons and estimated that the fuel consumption for the planned 3-hour return flight would be slightly more than 9 gallons per hour, per engine. What he did not realize was that the total fuel consumption displayed to him by his flight planning application was only accounting for 9 gallons per hour total, or about half of what it should have been. About 3 hours after departure, the right engine began to sputter and subsequently lost total power. After declaring a fuel emergency to air traffic control, the left engine also lost power. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger determined that they would not be able to glide the airplane to a nearby airport and they began to scan for an alternate landing location. They attempted to land in a large parking lot, but the airplane struck power lines before contacting the ground. The airplane came to rest upright on the main landing gear. The left wing was separated outboard of the left engine, and the fuselage, right wing, and empennage sustained substantial damage. A small postimpact fire ignited near the portion of the left wing that separated from the fuselage and was quickly extinguished after the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that less than 1 gallon of fuel remained in the right wing fuel tank and no fuel was present in what remained of the left wing fuel tank. There was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Given this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power to both engines was due to the pilot exhausting the airplane’s usable fuel supply.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were flying the multi-engine airplane on a long cross-country trip. At an intermediate stop, the pilot had the airplane serviced to a total fuel quantity of 60 gallons and estimated that the fuel consumption for the planned 3-hour return flight would be slightly more than 9 gallons per hour, per engine. What he did not realize was that the total fuel consumption displayed to him by his flight planning application was only accounting for 9 gallons per hour total, or about half of what it should have been. About 3 hours after departure, the right engine began to sputter and subsequently lost total power. After declaring a fuel emergency to air traffic control, the left engine also lost power. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger determined that they would not be able to glide the airplane to a nearby airport and they began to scan for an alternate landing location. They attempted to land in a large parking lot, but the airplane struck power lines before contacting the ground. The airplane came to rest upright on the main landing gear. The left wing was separated outboard of the left engine, and the fuselage, right wing, and empennage sustained substantial damage. A small postimpact fire ignited near the portion of the left wing that separated from the fuselage and was quickly extinguished after the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that less than 1 gallon of fuel remained in the right wing fuel tank and no fuel was present in what remained of the left wing fuel tank. There was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Given this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power to both engines was due to the pilot exhausting the airplane’s usable fuel supply.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:57 EST
Nearest AirportMelbourne Orlando Intl (3nm WNW)
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech BE-76 NO Series
Tail NumberN76NN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMelbourne Flight Training
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming Engines · O-360-A1G6D · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming Engines · LO-360-A1G6D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class · Minor
Crew 2Age 24 · First Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind30° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 63 F
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data