Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrollton, Texas 75011
Wednesday, February 21, 1990 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MISMANAGED THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LATTER PORTION OF A CROSS COUNTY FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL NON-MECHANICAL, LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VECTORED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, BUT STRUCK A TREE AND THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 3 STATUTE MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT COULD NOT, DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT WAS FLYING WITH THE LEFT FUEL TANK SELECTED WHICH WAS FOUND DEPLETED OF USEABLE FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS 3/4 FULL OF USEABLE, CLEAN FUEL. AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER, THE FUEL PUMP CAVITATED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME OR ALTITUDE TO PERFORM A RESTART.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS CAUSED BY THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SELECTION/MANAGEMENT OF THE APPROPRIATE FUEL TANK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN RUNNING A FUEL TANK DRY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/21/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 50
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CARROLLTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75011
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 49 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID DAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 700
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 303
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 21 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41242
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N236S
NTSB Number FTW90LA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 S35
Aircraft Series Identifier S35
Aircraft Serial Number D-7858
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EXECUTIVE FLIGHT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1410 MISTLETOE DR.
Operator City FORT WORTH
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76110
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OKC
Departure City OKLAHOMA CITY
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 2345
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAL
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --