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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Alabama · Pryor Field · 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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(TOTAL) - NONMECHANICAL during cruise
- FORCED LANDING during emergency descent/landing
- WHEELS UP LANDING during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- 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
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,870 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, 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
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
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; scattered at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°C, dew point 43°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from DCU, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N107WB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL07CA068.