Event CEN19TA073

Factual narrative

***This report was modified on July 20, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On January 27, 2019, at 1634 central standard time a Beech A36, N36PS, lost engine power during a practice instrument approach to Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (FTW), Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport certificated pilot made an off-airport forced landing in a field 5 miles southeast of FTW. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the airport about the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated from Angel Fire, New Mexico (AXX), at 1300 and was en route to Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), Arlington, Texas. The pilot told the inspector that before departing AXX, both fuel tanks were 3/4 full. He also indicated this in his accident report. He said he maintained fuel balance by switching between the left and right tanks "several times" during the flight. As he approached the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) TCA (Terminal Control Area), he requested and received vectors for a practice ILS (instrument landing system) [runway] 34 approach to FTW. Following slower traffic, he requested termination of the approach and said he would continue on to GKY. Shortly after climbing to 1,500 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector "to the other tank" and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He said he failed to turn on the electric boost pump (as required in the emergency checklist) and that, because of the airplane's low altitude, he did not have time to refer to the emergency checklist. He lowered the landing gear but elected not to lower the flaps for landing. The airplane touched down on soft earth, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed down. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector inspected the wreckage and sumped clear, bright fuel from the airplane's left fuel tank that appeared to be free of contaminants. The fuel gauges indicated slightly more than 1/4 full in the left fuel tank but the right tank was empty. Visual inspection of the tanks revealed a small, unknown fuel quantity in the left tank and the right fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot stated that before departure, both fuel tanks were 3/4 full and that he maintained fuel balance by switching between the left and right tanks "several times" during the flight. As he approached his destination, he requested and received vectors for a practice instrument approach to a nearby airport but then requested termination of the approach and said he would proceed to his original destination. Shortly after the airplane climbed to 1,500 ft (900 ft above ground level), the engine lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector "to the other tank" and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He stated that he did not turn on the electric boost pump (as required in the emergency checklist) and that the airplane was too low to the ground for him to reference the emergency checklist. He lowered the landing gear but did not lower the flaps for landing. The airplane touched down on soft earth, and the nose gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the nose. An unknown quantity of fuel was drained from the left tank, and the right tank was empty. The fuel that was sumped from the airplane's left tank appeared to be clear, bright, and free of contaminants. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operations. It is likely the engine lost power due to fuel starvation and the pilot failed to switch fuel tanks before exhausting the fuel in the right tank. 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-Lack of action-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C