Dawson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dawson, Georgia 31742
Friday, July 23, 1999 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into flight, the pilot initiated an enroute descent from 4500 feet to 2500 feet. The pilot stated that during the descent the engine lost power. Several attempts by the pilot to restart engine power failed. The pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. The airplane flipped over following the touchdown. Examination of the airplane disclosed that approximately 13 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank. No fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), the fuel selector has only two positions, on and off. The POH also showed that the fuel system has two in-line check valves to prevent fuel movement between tanks. According to the operator, he had experience check valve failure on several occasions in other Beech 77 type airplanes. Both check valves were removed from the fuel system. Examination of the right check valve disclosed that it was blocked.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation that resulted from a blocked fuel line check valve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DAWSON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31742
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DAWSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 16J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 975
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) 10419
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1713
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2001 10:56AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38482
NTSB Number ATL99LA112
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 77
Aircraft Series Identifier 77
Aircraft Serial Number WA-245
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 17 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4435
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SID HALL ENTERPRISE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 3008 SOUTHERN AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Owner City ALBANY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31706
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL C. STERN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3457 THORNWOOD DR
Operator City DORAVILLE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30340
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDK
Departure City DEKALB-PEACHTRE
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 16J
Destination City
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --