Beech D50C accident near Montague, California, April 2, 2005
On April 2, 2005 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech D50C, registered N50G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California (Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight and failure to verify that an adequate fuel supply was in the right main tank prior to flight, resulting in a fuel starvation induced loss of engine power in the right engine. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control following the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2005 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Montague-Yreka Rohrer Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D50C · all D50Cs on the register
- Registration
- N50G · registry record · serial DH-256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a loss of engine power from the right engine during takeoff, the airplane veered to the right of the runway and collided with a hangar. The pilot reported that he had found a leak in a fuel line fitting on the right engine during the flight prior to the accident. He fixed the leak by tightening the fitting; however, he had not determined how much fuel remained in the right main fuel tank after the repair or during preflight for the accident flight. The pilot said the start, taxi, and run-up were normal on both engines. Just after liftoff, the airplane yawed to the right. Despite full left rudder and aileron input, the pilot could not prevent the airplane from veering off the runway and colliding with a hangar. An examination of the airplane after the accident determined that the fuel system for the right wing was still intact, and that there were no leaks. The right auxiliary fuel tank was still full of fuel. No fuel was found in the right main fuel tank or in any of the fuel lines leading to the right engine.
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 takeoff - initial climb
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during takeoff - initial climb
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during emergency landing after takeoff
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, APLN, helicopter
- Flight time: 2,623 hours in all; 1,303 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: class 2
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: 1O5 Montague CA at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°C, dew point 37°C
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 am from SIY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 LAX05CA129.