Dietz Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Canby, Oregon 97013
Saturday, May 31, 2003 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot reported that the airplane experienced a dual engine failure just after takeoff from the 2,800-foot turf runway. Following the engine failure, the pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway, however, the airplane touched down in tall grass adjacent to the runway and slid to a stop. In a subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he inadvertently initiated the takeoff with the fuel selectors in the auxiliary position. He reported that normally the airplane is operated (during the takeoff phase of flight) with the fuel selectors in the main tank position, but he became distracted during the preflight and failed to reconfigure the fuel system prior to takeoff. He further reported that the main fuel tanks contained sufficient fuel for the flight, however, the auxiliary tanks were almost empty. An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and reported that there were trace amounts of fuel in the aircraft's auxiliary fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning resulting in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of power after takeoff. High vegetation was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Canby
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97013
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451520N
Event Location Longitude 1223903W
Event Location Airport DIETZ AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OR40
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 180
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID KUAO
Elevation of weather observation facility 200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15244
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 31 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Hillsboro, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N660K
NTSB Number SEA03LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 95 C-55
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number TE-34
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 11 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3.8
Airframe Hours 3165
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William G. Park
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Canby
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97013
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code OR40
Departure City Canby
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2004 4:32PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --