Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mobile, Alabama 36608
Monday, October 7, 1996 17:53 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after completing an ILS approach, he made a go-around. Shortly thereafter the engine began to sputter. The pilot reversed course and attempted a forced landing; however, the airplane collided with trees and terrain. Examination of the crash site revealed the left fuel tank was ruptured. There was no odor of fuel or evidence of any leakage of fuel. The right fuel tank was not ruptured, and no fuel was present in the right fuel tank. Also, no fuel was present in the fuel filter or fuel distributor valve. The engine was placed in an engine test cell. The engine started, developed power, and was operated for 20 minutes before being shut down.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper management of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power during a go-around, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain during a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/7/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1753
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MOBILE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36608
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1828 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 142
Weather Observation Facility ID MOB
Elevation of weather observation facility 218
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1094
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 7 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59TB
NTSB Number MIA97LA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Socata
Aircraft Model TB-20
Aircraft Series Identifier TB-20
Aircraft Serial Number 501
Certified Max Gross Weight 3086
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2163
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOCATA AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2701 FORUM DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City GRAND PRAIRIE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75052
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GPM
Departure City GRAND PRAIRIE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1357
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MOB
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --