Angleton, TX, USA
N6717S
Beech BE77
The 700-hour pilot was unable to restart the engine after the engine stopped producing power approximately 30 minutes after take-off, while in cruise flight for a short cross-country flight. The pilot elected to perform an emergency landing on a feeder road for a four-lane State Highway. During the landing roll on the feeder road, the left wing was sheared off just outboard of the wing-walk area, when it collided with a signpost on the shoulder of the road. The airplane continued the rollout and came to rest upright in a muddy field. Approximately one fourth cup of blue liquid resembling avgas was drained from the right wing fuel tank, and no fuel was observed in the left wing fuel tank. Approximately one teaspoon of blue liquid was drained from the carburetor.
On February 13, 2005, about 1130 central standard time, a Beech BE77 single-engine airplane, N6717S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power near Angleton, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), near Houston, Texas, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident, and was en route to the Brazoria County Airport (LBX), near Angleton, Texas. In a written statement, the 700-hour pilot reported that approximately 30 minutes after take-off, while in cruise flight, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he was unable to restart the engine and elected to perform an emergency landing on a feeder road for State Highway 288. During the landing roll on the feeder road, the left wing was sheared-off just outboard of the wing-walk area when it collided with a signpost on the shoulded of the road. The airplane continued the rollout and came to rest upright in a muddy field. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, approximately one fourth cup of blue liquid resembling avgas was drained from the right wing fuel tank, and no fuel was found in the left wing fuel tank. Approximately one teaspoon of blue liquid was drained from the carburetor. Locas firefighters, who responded to the accident site, reported approximately two gallons of water and fuel mixture was recovered from the muddy area around the severed left wing.
The loss of engine power as result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper in-flight planning. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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