NTSB Identification: CEN13CA162
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, February 14, 2013 in Abilene, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/09/2013
Aircraft: BEECH A60, registration: N7466D
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot reported that he had added fuel at the previous fuel stop and that he was using a fuel totalizer to determine the quantity of fuel onboard. After climbing to a cruise altitude of 14,000 feet above ground level, he discovered that the fuel mixture control was frozen and that he was unable to lean the mixture to a lower fuel flow setting. The pilot reported that because of the increased fuel consumption, he briefly considered an en route stop for additional fuel but decided to continue. During descent, the airplane experienced a complete loss of power in both engines, and the pilot made an emergency off-field, gear-up landing about 7 miles from the destination. The airplane impacted terrain and thick scrub trees, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, both engine mounts, and the fuselage. A postaccident examination found that only a trace of fuel remained. The pilot also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that his inadequate fuel management was partly because he had become overconfident in his abilities after 50 years of flying.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
The pilot reported that he had added a specified amount of fuel at the previous fuel stop and he was using a fuel totalizer to determine the quantity of fuel on-board. After climbing to a cruise altitude of 14,000 feet above ground level he discovered that the fuel mixture control was frozen and he was unable to lean the mixture to a lower fuel flow setting. The pilot reported that because of the increased fuel consumption he briefly considered an enroute stop for additional fuel but decided to continue. During descent the airplane experienced a complete loss of power in both engines and the pilot made an emergency off-field gear-up landing about 7 miles from the destination. The airplane impacted terrain and thick scrub trees which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, both engine mounts, and the fuselage. A postaccident examination found that only a trace of fuel remained. The pilot also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure and that his inadequate fuel management was partly because he had become overconfident in his abilities after 50 years of flying.
It was a bumpy ride back down to earth Thursday morning for frank Leroy Bell and his dual-engine aircraft.
"The front, the leading edges of the wings, and the engines took the biggest hit from the crash. It is in pretty bad shape," says Don Green, Director of Aviation at Abilene Regional.
The Tuscola pilot radioed in that he was about to crash, then radioed in again after crashing, saying he was okay.
"I started walking back that way looking for the plane. The pilot was okay. The plane was in the trees, in relatively good condition considering the fact that it had crashed," said an APD police officer.
First responders confirmed from Mr. Bell that he had run out of fuel, forcing him to attempt a landing in an open field, near the Hamby Cemetary in Callahan county.
"The pilot did an excellent job bringing the aircraft down. He was just a little short of the field that he was going for. He just lost momentum," explained Green.
Next up comes the task of removing the aircraft from the private property.
"The FAA in Lubbock is on the way and they will conduct an investigation into the crash. They will authorize the aircraft to be moved, probably back to the airport," states Green.
A pilot flying a separate small aircraft was witness to the crash and circled the scene until first responders could arrive.
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The airport reported an inflight emergency from the 1970 Beech A60 plane when the call came in around 10:30 a.m. The accident happened almost eight miles northeast of Abilene.
Pilot Frank Leroy Bell, 75, is OK, but the aircraft sustained extensive damage. There were no reports of flames or smoke.
Abilene Fire Department spokesman Greg Goettsch said Bell knew he was low on fuel and had intended on landing at Elmdale Airpark.
Bell said he was traveling from Fort Smith, Ark., and was attempting to make it to Abilene Regional Airport. He attempted to land in a field but ended up putting the plane down in mesquite trees.
The plane went down one half of a mile east of Highway 351 near the Hamby Volunteer Fire Department.
