Casualties unknown

2005-12-27: Piper PA-31-350 (N711HG) — Midwest Aviation — Marshall, MN

Marshall, MN, US

On December 27, 2005, a Piper PA-31-350 (registration N711HG) operated by Midwest Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Marshall, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power in both engines while on approach due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations leading to him refueling the outboard tanks only. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine airplane on a domestic repositioning flight lost power from both engines on approach, leading to a forced landing on snow-covered terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Examination revealed empty fuel tanks, with no pre-impact anomalies found.

Accident Overview

A twin-engine airplane operating a non-scheduled domestic passenger repositioning flight experienced a loss of engine power from both engines while on approach. The crew executed a forced landing, during which the aircraft impacted snow-covered terrain, resulting in substantial damage.

Fuel and Pre-Impact Condition

Prior to departure, the pilot requested that only the outboard fuel tanks be refueled. An on-scene examination of the airplane after the accident found that all fuel tanks were empty. No pre-impact anomalies were identified with the aircraft, indicating that the airframe, engines, and systems were functioning normally before the power loss.

Investigation Notes

Investigators documented the absence of fuel in the tanks and noted that the forced landing was necessitated by the in-flight loss of engine power. The specific cause of the dual engine power loss was not stated in the investigation source, though the fuel exhaustion is a notable finding. No other contributing factors were reported.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20051227X02018. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.