Lumpkin County-Wimpys Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
Monday, May 23, 2005 13:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he prepared his airplane for a short cross-country flight. After the preflight he departed the Gainesville Airport and climbed to 3000 feet. Upon arrival at his destination airport he turned downwind and then base to set up for his final approach for landing. As the pilot adjusted the power setting the manifold pressure began to drop. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and the manifold pressure continued to drop and the engine lost power. The pilot made an off field forced landing on a road. During the landing roll out the right wing struck a tree. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed the outboard section of the right wing was broken off of the airframe. The nose of the airplane was buckled downward and aft, and the nose gear was separated from the airframe. The left wing assembly was buckled. Examination of the right fuel tank revealed that it had less than a quart of fuel. The left fuel tank had approximately 12 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, "a possible miscalculation of remaining fuel in the right tank, and more attention to fuel management may have prevented the emergency landing". Review of the pilot operating handbook: Before Landing checklist item #2 states: Fuel Selector Valve-SELECT FULLER TANK (feel for detent).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's mismanagment of the fuel supply which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1355
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DAHLONEGA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30533
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343445N
Event Location Longitude 0840113W
Event Location Airport LUMPKIN COUNTY-WIMPYS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9A0
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 --
Airport Elevation 1311
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID GVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1275
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4800
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.78
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) 19855
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date May 23 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
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 Atlanta FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17836
NTSB Number ATL05CA087
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 BE-36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-1041
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1158
Airframe Hours 3074
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jack Freeman
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9130 Bearer Trail
Aircraft Owner City Gainsville
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30506
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name F & W AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3511 SILVERSIDE RD STE 105
Operator City WILMINGTON
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19810
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 No
Departure Airport Code GVL
Departure City GAINESVILLE
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 9A0
Destination City DAHLONEGA
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 23 2005 4:00PM
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 --