Beechcraft A36TC N140KB

Summary

On 1 October 1991 at about 18:35 local time, a Beechcraft A36TC registered N140KB, operated by Lutz, Thorsten, was involved in an accident near Dunsmuir, California, 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

1 October 1991 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunsmuir, California, United States

Nearest airport

Dunsmuir (106)

Coordinates

41.1903, -122.2602

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36TC

Registration

N140KB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lutz, Thorsten

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Redding

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA001

1 person was seriously injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.