Homer Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Homer, Louisiana 71040
Thursday, March 4, 1999 16:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while on final approach. The pilot stated that the airplane encountered 'light turbulence' during the final approach. The airplane was approximately 1,000 feet from the runway and 500 feet above ground level, when the pilot advanced the throttle, and the engine lost power. The airplane impacted pine trees and the ground and came to rest upright, 32 feet short of the approach end of the runway. Between 4 and 6 gallons of fuel were drained from each of the two wing fuel tanks. The engine was test run in the airframe, and it operated within normal parameters at all power settings. The pilot stated that he attributed the loss of engine power to 'unporting of fuel on final approach.' According to the airframe manufacturer, in certain flight maneuvers fuel may move away from the fuel tank outlets, resulting in a loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of fuel moving away from the fuel supply outlets. Factors were the low fuel level and the turbulence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HOMER
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71040
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HOMER MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5F4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 244
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID DTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 179
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 541
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 427
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2645U
NTSB Number FTW99LA091
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172D
Aircraft Series Identifier 172D
Aircraft Serial Number 17250245
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 26 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2271
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL G. BANKS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 217
Aircraft Owner City TARPON SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34688
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code M02
Departure City DICKSON
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 3199
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --