Image: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Beechcraft King Air E90 crashes onto hangar roof after fuel exhaustion during go-around
US investigation finds flight crew ignored low fuel warnings and continued flight, leading to fuel starvation and crash onto hangar roof at Kansas airport.
The gist
Fuel exhaustion caused a King Air E90 to crash onto a hangar roof during a go-around after crew ignored critical low fuel warnings.
A Beechcraft King Air E90 collided with the roof of a hangar in Kansas during a go-around maneuver last year, with US investigators attributing the accident to fuel exhaustion. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inquiry revealed that both pilots onboard had observed wing-tank fuel gauges indicating levels within a yellow caution band, a warning against take-off. Despite this, the crew proceeded with the flight, which ended with the aircraft impacting the hangar roof and sustaining serious damage. Both the flight instructor and the pilot undergoing training survived the incident on 16 June 2025.
According to the King Air E90 flight manual, take-off is prohibited if fuel gauges show fuel quantities within the yellow caution band, which corresponds to zero to 260 pounds (118 kilograms) of fuel. Testimony to the NTSB revealed the right and left wing tanks were displaying fuel levels within this hazardous range before departure. The instructor estimated 300 pounds in the left tank and 250 pounds in the right, whereas the pilot believed each tank had between 150 to 200 pounds. Neither pilot performed a visual fuel check, and the instructor was reportedly unaware of the minimum fuel requirements for take-off on this aircraft.
The flight originated from Butler, Missouri, and was intended to be a short 16-minute journey to New Century airport in Kansas. Upon turning onto the base leg for the final approach to runway 18, the aircraft slowed below its minimum control speed (Vmc), prompting the pilot to apply increased power. The airplane began yawing left, leading the instructor to take control and suspect left engine flameout due to fuel starvation. The instructor retracted the landing gear and flaps but chose not to feather the left-hand propeller, presuming limited thrust was still available.
Despite the instructor’s control inputs and attempts to roll the aircraft right, the King Air continued its left turn and headed toward a hangar structure. The instructor anticipated sufficient acceleration to clear the building and elected not to turn back to the runway. The aircraft ultimately struck the hangar’s roof and came to rest there. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, designated N1UC in registration.
Post-accident examination indicated the wing tanks were not breached, containing only 3 fluid ounces (90 milliliters) in the left tank and 30 fluid ounces in the right. The NTSB concluded these quantities were insufficient to conduct a successful go-around and re-enter the landing pattern, especially on a single engine. The fuel starvation scenario led directly to the partial engine flameout and the aircraft’s inability to maintain controlled flight.
Both pilots survived the crash without fatal injuries. The NTSB investigation placed emphasis on the pilots’ decision to depart despite fuel indications that violated safety guidelines. The lack of a physical fuel check and the instructor’s unfamiliarity with minimum fuel criteria contributed to the misjudgment. The accident highlights critical operational risks when pre-flight fuel assessments are inadequate and warnings from onboard indicators are disregarded.
Fuel management and adherence to published flight manual limitations remain essential for safe operations, particularly in multi-engine turboprop aircraft like the King Air E90. This accident serves as a cautionary example of the consequences when crews overlook or underestimate low-fuel warnings. The NTSB’s findings reinforce the importance of strict pre-flight fuel verification and conservative decision-making when fuel gauges show caution band indications.
Frequently asked questions
- What caused the Beechcraft King Air E90 to crash onto the hangar roof?
- The crash was caused by fuel exhaustion leading to engine flameout during a go-around; the crew ignored fuel gauges showing critically low fuel before take-off.
- Did the pilots check the fuel levels visually before departure?
- No, neither the instructor nor the pilot-in-training performed a visual check of the fuel tanks before departure.
- Was the aircraft able to clear the hangar during the go-around?
- No, the aircraft impacted the hangar roof because it slowed below minimum control speed and continued turning left during the go-around.
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