Beech A36 accident near Refugio, Texas, October 2, 2009
On October 2, 2009 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N991PP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Refugio, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to follow the correct engine restart checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2009 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Refugio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N991PP · no longer on the register · serial E-914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight the pilot tracked his fuel usage by watching the engine analyzer; however, about 180 miles from his destination airport the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing, resulting in substantial to the airplane. During the descent the pilot unsuccessfully tried to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector between the right and left fuel tanks. An on-site examination of the airplane revealed that the that the airplane's left wing fuel tank contained about 2 cups of fuel and when the right wing fuel cap was removed, fuel would spill from the tank. An additional examination of the fuel selector, airframe, and an engine test run failed to reveal a preimpact anomaly that would have precluded a restart of the engine. The pilot later added that while trying to restart the engine he did not turn on the electric-driven fuel pump. Additionally, he noted that the checklist that he carried in the aircraft failed to mention the electric-driven fuel pump; however, he noted that the pilot's operating handbook (POH) did mention the electric pump.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,142 hours in all; 448 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 860 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Mark Jm LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KIXD New Century Air KS
- Destination: KCRP Corpus Christi TX
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KRKP, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.