Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mitchell, Nebraska 69357
Saturday, July 26, 1997 17:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After performing maintenance work on the aircraft, the pilot had the aircraft fueled. 25 gallons of fuel were put into each outboard auxiliary tank. The fueler reported that the pilot removed the outboard fuel caps and he filled those tanks; the pilot then replaced the fuel caps after fueling was completed. The pilot stated he 'failed to recheck fueling and individual tanks.' The main tanks located on the inside of the engine nacelle were not filled. The pilot did a run up and partial power taxi, returned, checked the engines for leaks, and departed. After leveling off at 1500' above ground level and 10 minutes en route, the left engine lost power. The pilot switched to the auxiliary tank, the engine gained power but then quit. The pilot prepared for landing and landed in a rough field. The right main gear and nose gear came off and the fuselage wrinkled behind the cockpit. The pilot reported the next day that he checked the left main tank and found it to be 'bone dry.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper fuel selector position and the fuel starvation. Factors contributing to the accident were: the pilot's inattentiveness of the refueling, inadequate aircraft preflight, and the rough terrain/ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MITCHELL
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69357
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID BFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 3965
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 825
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 26 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2051
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3BE
NTSB Number CHI97LA226
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model D50A
Aircraft Series Identifier D50A
Aircraft Serial Number DH-196
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 0
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 3 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 4104
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RIMROCK MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 145 J.U. WALKER ST
Aircraft Owner City ELY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES ADAMS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1620 5TH STREET
Operator City GERING
Operator State NE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 69341
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TOR
Departure City TORRINGTON
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFF
Destination City SCOTTSBLUFF
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --