Incident Overview
A pilot flying a Beech B90 made a refueling stop at Vandalia, Illinois. She did not observe the refueling process, but the fixed-base operator (FBO) also operated a King Air, and she felt he knew the proper procedure to follow. The airplane was reportedly serviced with 235 gallons of Jet-A fuel. The total fuel capacity of the aircraft is 384 gallons.
Flight and Fuel Management
During the flight, the pilot operated at altitudes between 7,500 and 10,500 feet. Approximately 45 minutes from the destination, the fuel transfer pump lights illuminated, indicating that the wing tanks were empty. At that time, the nacelle tank gauges registered three-quarters full. Based on this indication, the pilot determined that she had sufficient fuel to complete the flight.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
When the airplane was approximately three minutes from its destination, both engines flamed out. The pilot executed a wheels-up forced landing. The aircraft sustained damage during the landing.
Post-Accident Findings
When the salvage company recovered the airplane, they reported finding no evidence of fuel aboard. Additionally, it was discovered that the pilot had been provided with and used performance charts for the Beech 65-A90 instead of the correct charts for the Beech B90.