Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Wendover Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Wendover, Utah 84083
Monday, April 26, 1999 15:15 MDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
While inbound to land at Wendover Airport, the pilot was advised that the airport was temporarily closed due to equipment on the runway. The pilot observed that the fuel tank was indicating 6 to 8 gallons remaining. He circled the airport for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, at which time the fuel gauge indicated zero. He advised the airport that he needed to land immediately, and they agreed to remove the equipment. While turning onto final approach for landing, the engine quit and the aircraft landed hard short of the runway. Several engine examinations were performed following the accident. During one exam, 3 gallons of fuel was added to the fuel tank and no leaks were observed. The fuel tank was also filled with water and again no leaks were found. In a third exam, the fuel tank was filled with 4 gallons of fuel. The engine was test run and no discrepancies were observed. According to FAA records, the pilot had two previous mishaps involving improper fuel management.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's improper preflight/in-flight planning and decision making, resulting in fuel supply exhaustion. A factor was the closed runway condition.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 4/26/1999 |
| Event Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time of Event | 1515 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Daylight Time |
| Event City | WENDOVER |
| Event State | UTAH |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 84083 |
| Event Date Year | 1999 |
| Event Date Month | 4 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | -- |
| Event Location Longitude | -- |
| Event Location Airport | WENDOVER AIRPORT |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | ENV |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 4235 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1515 Mountain Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | ENV |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 4235 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | MDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 9000 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 4900 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Scattered |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | 0 |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 0 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 5 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 16 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 6 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 0 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 0 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Calm |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 5387 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Minor |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 1 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 115 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Apr 26 1999 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1545 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 27 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N906DS |
| NTSB Number | DEN99LA065 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Piper |
| Aircraft Model | PA-25-235 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | PA-25-235 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 25-4906 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2900 |
| 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 | 1 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 2 |
| Airframe Hours | -- |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | THIEL AIR CARE, INC. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 14609 AVE. 24-1/2 |
| Aircraft Owner City | CHOWCHILLE |
| Aircraft Owner State | CA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 93610 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | DAVID S. SHEPPARD |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | P.O. BOX 284 |
| Operator City | FORT BRIDGER |
| Operator State | WY |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | 82933 |
| 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) | Ferry |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | BMC |
| Departure City | BRIGHAM CITY |
| Departure State | UT |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1340 |
| Departure Time Zone | MDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | ENV |
| Destination City | |
| Destination State | |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 27 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 12 |
| Runway Length | 8000 |
| Runway Width | 100 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |