Beechcraft BE-36 N17836

Summary

On 23 May 2005 at about 17:55 local time, a Beechcraft BE-36 registered N17836, operated by F & W Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Dahlonega, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2005 at 17:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Dahlonega, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Lumpkin County-Wimpys (9A0)

Coordinates

34.5792, -84.0203

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-36

Registration

N17836

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

F & W Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gainesville → Dahlonega

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05CA087

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's mismanagment of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he prepared his airplane for a short cross-country flight. After the preflight he departed the Gainesville Airport and climbed to 3000 feet. Upon arrival at his destination airport he turned downwind and then base to set up for his final approach for landing. As the pilot adjusted the power setting the manifold pressure began to drop. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and the manifold pressure continued to drop and the engine lost power. The pilot made an off field forced landing on a road. During the landing roll out the right wing struck a tree. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the outboard section of the right wing was broken off of the airframe. The nose of the airplane was buckled downward and aft, and the nose gear was separated from the airframe. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the right fuel tank revealed that it had less than a quart of fuel. The left fuel tank had approximately 12 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, "a possible miscalculation of remaining fuel in the right tank, and more attention to fuel management may have prevented the emergency landing". Review of the pilot operating handbook: Before Landing checklist item #2 states: Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT FULLER TANK (feel for detent).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.