On July 15, 1987, a Beech 55 (registration N321MB) operated by Karen Pfeiffer was involved in an aviation accident near Rigby, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel exhaustion leading to loss of power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During descent, both engines lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft made a forced landing on a wheat field and struck a ditch. No fuel remained despite a gauge reading over 1/4 tank.
Incident Overview
While descending for landing, a loss of power occurred because both engines were being fed from the right main fuel tank, which had exhausted its supply. The aircraft executed a forced landing on a wheat field. During the landing rollout, the aircraft struck a ditch.
Fuel Status
Post-incident investigation revealed that no fuel remained on board. Both the auxiliary tanks and the main tanks were empty. However, with the master switch engaged, the fuel gauge for the right main tank indicated more than one-quarter of a tank remaining.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the loss of power was directly caused by fuel exhaustion. No other contributing factors were identified from the available evidence.