BEECH P35
Bridgeport, TX — July 2, 2013
Event Information
| Date | July 2, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN13CA389 |
| Event ID | 20130703X15454 |
| Location | Bridgeport, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.17194, -97.82361 |
| Airport | Bridgeport Municipal Airport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | BEECH |
| Model | P35 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The failure of both the flight instructor and the pilot to monitor and manage the fuel on board, which resulted in an engine failure due to fuel starvation.
Full Narrative
The pilot and flight instructor had been flying for over two hours, doing air work and making touch-and-go landings at Bridgeport (XBP), Alliance-Fort Worth (AFW), Meacham (FTW) and Hicks Airports (T67). Returning to XBP, they were making a final touch-and-go landing when the engine lost power. Unable to glide back to the runway, the flight instructor made a forced landing in a plowed field north of the airport. The airplane touched down hard, shearing off the landing gear, and sliding 60 feet before coming to a stop. The firewall was buckled. The flight instructor and pilot sustained minor injuries. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and reported the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank. When electrical power was applied, the left fuel gauge registered empty. One quart of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank. The right fuel tank had not been compromised and contained fuel.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.