No fatalities

2 Jul 2013: BEECH P35 — Michael E. R Read — Bridgeport, TX

Bridgeport, TX, United States

On 2 Jul 2013, a BEECH P35 operated by Michael E. R Read was involved in an aviation accident near Bridgeport, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of both the flight instructor and the pilot to monitor and manage the fuel on board, which resulted in an engine failure due to fuel starvation. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a touch-and-go landing at Bridgeport Airport, the engine lost power. The flight instructor performed a forced landing in a plowed field, resulting in minor injuries to both occupants. Post-accident inspection indicated fuel starvation from the left tank.

Accident Details

A pilot and a flight instructor were conducting a flight that included air work and touch-and-go landings at Bridgeport (XBP), Alliance-Fort Worth (AFW), Meacham (FTW), and Hicks Airports (T67). After over two hours of flying, they returned to Bridgeport for a final touch-and-go landing. During the landing roll or as they were initiating the touch-and-go, the engine lost power. Unable to glide back to the runway, the flight instructor executed a forced landing in a plowed field north of the airport. The airplane touched down hard, causing the landing gear to shear off. The aircraft slid 60 feet before coming to a stop. The firewall was buckled. Both the pilot and flight instructor sustained minor injuries.

Inspection Findings

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident. The fuel selector was found positioned on the left fuel tank. When electrical power was applied, the left fuel gauge registered empty. Only one quart of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank. The right fuel tank had not been compromised and contained fuel.

Conclusion

The investigation did not specify a probable cause. The facts are as documented in the official source.

Contributing factors

PilotInstructor/check pilotFluid management