Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB CEN15FA081
BEECH V35A — Seagoville, TX
| Date | December 19, 2014 |
| Location | Seagoville, TX |
| Aircraft | BEECH V35A |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night/Dark · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Approach Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 73 |
| Pilot total time | 5,150 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 4,700 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Effect on operation - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Fuel planning-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Situational awareness-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Knowledge-Knowledge of procedures-Pilot
What happened
After a 90-minute instrument flight rules flight, the pilot descended toward his home airport and attempted six unsuccessful instrument approaches in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The controller terminated three GPS approaches and one instrument landing system approach because the pilot flew through the final approach course; one GPS approach was terminated because the pilot was performing S-turns on final. Sunset occurred during the third approach attempt. After the fourth approach attempt, the controller suggested that the pilot divert to an airport with visual meteorological conditions (VMC), which the pilot declined because of the airplane's low fuel status.
During the sixth approach attempt, the pilot stated he was "getting tired of flying this airplane." The controller offered him vectors to a VMC airport, but the pilot declined, stating he wanted to "keep working until we get it." Soon after he made this statement, the airplane turned right toward the final approach course and rapidly descended until terrain impact. The pilot likely either attempted to descend below IMC and/or experienced spatial disorientation, but the investigation was unable to determine the precise reason for the loss of control.
The pilot's six unsuccessful approach attempts and his decision not to divert to a VMC airport revealed poor instrument flight skills, poor fuel planning, lack of situational awareness, and poor judgment. A review of medical records revealed that the pilot was using a sedating antihistamine and had several physiological issues, including vision deficits, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy. These conditions may have had an impairing effect on the pilot, but the medical investigation was limited by the degree of damage to the pilot's body and the extent to which they may have affected the pilot at the time of the accident could not be determined.