No fatalities

2003-09-21: Beechcraft 90 King Air (N34HA) — Hawk Aviation — Summerville, United States of America

Summerville, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On September 21, 2003, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration N34HA) operated by Hawk Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Summerville, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781200799Data APIEditorial standards

After takeoff with 20 gallons of fuel per wing, both engines lost power during approach, leading to an emergency landing. Fuel tanks were not beached and contained residual fuel.

Accident Overview

The pilot reported that before departure, the airplane was fueled with 20 gallons of fuel in each wing for a short cross-country flight. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to 9,500 feet. While on the downwind leg of the arrival airport, the right engine lost power. Shortly after, the left engine also lost power, prompting the pilot to execute an emergency off-airport landing.

Post-Accident Examination

Examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel tanks were not beached, and only a small amount of residual fuel remained in the tanks. The exact amount of fuel onboard at the time of departure was not determined.

Probable Cause

The official finding attributed the accident to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.