Beech D50E accident near Decatur, Alabama, April 6, 2007
On April 6, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Beech D50E, registered N107WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Alabama (Pryor Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in failure of both engines due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2007
- Place
- Decatur, Alabama · Pryor Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D50E · all D50Es on the register
- Registration
- N107WB · no longer on the register · serial DH-332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on the cross country flight using the fuel from both main fuel tanks. Approximately one half hour into the flight the pilot stated that he switched both engines to the auxiliary fuel tanks. Two hours into the flight the right engine ran out of fuel. He switched the right fuel selector back to the main tank and turned on the electric boost pump. The engine surged and quit again. The pilot contacted air traffic control for a heading to the nearest airport and turned 180 degrees toward Pryor Field, Decatur, Alabama. The left engine stopped, and he turned the left engine fuel selector to the left main tank. He turned on the electric fuel boost pump and the engine failed to start. The pilot advised air traffic control that he had a fuel problem, and would not make it to the airport. He feathered the propellers and made an emergency landing in a field. After the forced landing the pilot and occupants exited the airplane uninjured. The pilot inspected both right fuel tanks and found both tanks empty. He inspected the left auxiliary tank and found it full and the left main was found with a lot of fuel. He reported that when he switched the fuel tanks to auxiliary positions he must have accidentally place the left fuel selector in the cross feed position.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,336 hours in all; 226 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 7,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,177 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G206 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Magnolia Flight Services Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: AGS Augusta GA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: M01 Memphis TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from DCU, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N107WB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N107WB: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft D-50 65 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G206 246 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pryor Field Regional · nearest airport
- Augusta Regional AT Bush Field · departed from
- General Dewitt Spain Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alabama 1,211 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- Alabama 4,354 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N107WB 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL07CA068.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.