N40BA – BEECH B90 – 2025-12-28 NTSB Accident Report

On December 28, 2025, about 0935 eastern standard time, a Beech B90 airplane, N40BA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia. The pilot received minor injuries, and the copilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.

The pilot reported that on the day before the accident flight, he instructed the fixed base operator (FBO) to fill the airplane’s fuel tanks. On the morning of the accident, FBO personnel informed the pilot that the airplane was fueled with 152 gallons of fuel. During the preflight inspection, the pilot observed the fuel quantity gauges indicated full.

The airplane departed Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida, about 0628, under an instrument flight rules flight plan destined for Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia. The airplane climbed to about 11,000 ft mean sea level and cruised in clear en route weather conditions. Weather at the destination airport included low cloud ceilings, and nearby airports were identified as alternates.

About 43 nautical miles from PDK, the pilot directed the copilot to calculate the remaining fuel, which was reported as about 112 gallons remaining. Approach control approved a request to divert to Dobbins ARB Airport (MGE), Marietta, Georgia; however, shortly thereafter, air traffic control reported improved weather conditions at PDK, and the flight crew requested vectors for an approach.

The airplane was vectored for the instrument landing system (ILS) runway 21L approach at PDK. While configuring the airplane near the final approach fix, which included the extension of the landing gear and flaps, the pilot reported a total loss of engine power on both engines, accompanied by illumination of all cockpit warning lights. The pilot initiated a shallow right turn to avoid residential structures and performed a forced landing to a wooded area in a residential neighborhood. During the landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain before coming to rest about 2.4 nautical miles northeast of the approach end of runway 21L. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings, empennage, and fuselage.

The airplane was retained for further examination.