Hanscom Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
Saturday, May 27, 2000 17:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed on a cross-country flight with an estimated 64 gallons of usable fuel onboard. About two hours into the flight, the pilot entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and placed the fuel selector on the left tank. While on final approach, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right main tank, and momentarily turned on the fuel boost pump switch. The pilot was unable to start the engine, and landed short of the runway. The pilot reported that there should have been 12 gallons of fuel in both the left and right main wing tanks. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main tank, left tip tank, and right tip tank were empty. Approximately 20 gallons of fuel were drained from the right main tank. No mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine or fuel system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1703
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BEDFORD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01730
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HANSCOM FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BED
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 110
Airport Elevation 123
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1705 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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) 11195
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England Com Ctr
NTSB Notification Date May 27 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1703
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2001 1:05PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N66SB
NTSB Number IAD00LA045
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 Beech
Aircraft Model A-36
Aircraft Series Identifier A-36
Aircraft Serial Number E921
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 22 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3442
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAWTHORNE AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City CONCORD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01742
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHL
Departure City PHILADELPHIA
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1518
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BED
Destination City
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 7001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --