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Atlas / NTSB / CEN10CA568

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CEN10CA568

2010-09-20 Fort Worth, Texas, United States Airport · T67 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N17GB

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BEECH D17S

Year of manufacture

1943 · 67 years old at event

Engine

P&W R-985 SERIES (450 hp)

Seats / Engines

5 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19560326

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A1176C

Registrant of record

TEXAS BARNSTORMING MUSEUM

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Factual narrative

The pilot told FAA inspectors that he was returning from the Reno Air Races and had stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona, to refuel. On final approach to Hicks Airfield, the engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing on rough terrain. Both upper and lower left wings were crushed. The pilot said that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. On several occasions, the pilot was requested to complete and return NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report. He failed to comply. The pilot reported to Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that, while on final approach, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He configured the airplane for a forced landing and touched down on rough terrain. As a result of the impact sequence both the upper and lower left wings were crushed. The pilot stated the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN10CA568.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.