Dorchester County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Summerville, South Carolina 29483
Sunday, September 21, 2003 23:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, prior to takeoff, he had the airplane fueled with 20 gallons of fuel in each wing for the short cross-country flight. After takeoff the airplane climbed to an altitude of 9500 feet. During the downwind to the arrival airport the right engine lost power. Shortly after the left engine lost power, the pilot made an emergency off-airport landing. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not beached, and there was a small amount of residual fuel in the fuel tanks. The exact amount of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the departure was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/21/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Summerville
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29483
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 330304N
Event Location Longitude 0801604W
Event Location Airport DORCHESTER COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DYB
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 56
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2056 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CHS
Elevation of weather observation facility 46
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) 1546
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 19830
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 22 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 5
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbia FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N34HA
NTSB Number ATL03LA144
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 A90
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number LJ315
Certified Max Gross Weight 9650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/Foreign Oper.
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAWK AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1349 GALLERIA DR STE 200
Aircraft Owner City HENDERSON
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89014
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 H6WA
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 BNL
Departure City BARNWELL
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2200
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DYB
Destination City SUMMERVILLE
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - emergency
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 26 2004 1:40PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --