Beech BE-76 accident near Port Orange, Florida, November 1, 2006
On November 1, 2006 at about 4:18 pm local time, a Beech BE-76, registered N6017U, was destroyed in an accident near Port Orange, Florida (Spruce Creek airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2006 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Port Orange, Florida · Spruce Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-76
- Registration
- N6017U · no longer on the register · serial ME-159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in a Beech BE-76, the flight instructor and student noted a total loss of power in the right engine. They declared an emergency to air traffic control (ATC), and initially flew toward their home airport, about 8 nautical miles away. The flight instructor and student pilot subsequently reported minimum fuel to ATC, and then diverted to a closer airport, as they believed that the airplane was about to lose power in the left engine. The airplane impacted a residential area about 1 nautical mile from the alternate airport. Examination of fueling records, operator records, and the student's pilot logbook revealed that the airplane flew about 3.3 hours since it was completely fueled; however, the operator records were incomplete, and any additional flights in the accident airplane during that time could not be verified. The airplane's fuel capacity was 103 total gallons, of which 3 gallons were unusable fuel. Review of engine manufacturer information revealed that each engine consumed about 10.5 gallons-per-hour at 75 percent power. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and no fuel was present throughout the fuel system.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 353 as pilot in command; 43 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,763.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 123.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming L0-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aussie Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 7FL6 Spruce Creek FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DAB, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.