Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Friday, November 17, 2006 19:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At the completion of a cross country flight the engine experienced a loss of power while the aircraft was on approach. The aircraft collided with trees and came to rest about 300 yards north of the approach end of the runway. A witness located near the airport described hearing an aircraft on approach to the airport. The witness then heard the aircraft's engine surge and rev loudly three times before going silent. About 10 seconds after hearing the engine go silent, the witness reported hearing a loud crash. The witness then proceeded toward the sound of the crash and found the aircraft near one of the outlying lights of the approach lighting system. He noted that there was no smell of fuel at the accident site. An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found that the left main fuel tank had been compromised and there were 5 gallons of fuel in the right main tank. He noted that the fuel selector was in the auxiliary tanks position. The before landing checklist in the aircraft flight manual for the accident airplane indicated that prior to landing, the fuel selector must be positioned to the "Main Tank More Nearly Full." The inspector removed the inlet and outlet lines from the fuel manifold and observed no fuel in any line.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning while on approach which lead to a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Flagstaff
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86001
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350902N
Event Location Longitude 1113929W
Event Location Airport Flagstaff Pulliam
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7011
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID FLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22068
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2007 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8246D
NTSB Number LAX07LA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beechcraft
Aircraft Model J35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-5350
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5736
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James A. Levitt
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chinle
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86503
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Chinle
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 86503
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 E91
Departure City Chinle
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FLG
Destination City Flagstaff
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 26 2007 11:22PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 6999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --