Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Breckenridge, Texas 76424
Saturday, May 28, 1994 16:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK NUMEROUS TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT ONLY THE LEFT PROPELLER SWITCH WAS IN THE FEATHER POSITION AND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE DROP TANK POSITION. DROP TANKS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOTS FLIGHT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL INDICATES THAT WARM UP, TAKEOFF AND THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE FUEL SELECTORS IN THE RESERVE POSITION. THE RESERVE TANKS DID NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 3 HOURS AND FORTY-ONE MINUTES IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, OF WHICH ONE HOUR AND FORTY-ONE MINUTES WERE WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF POWER DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BRECKENRIDGE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76424
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 769
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1738
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38LL
NTSB Number FTW94LA184
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 LOCKHEED
Aircraft Model P-38
Aircraft Series Identifier P-38
Aircraft Serial Number AFF42-104088
Certified Max Gross Weight 21400
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 3
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN AIR POWER HERITAGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 62000
Aircraft Owner City MIDLAND
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79711
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ORR, JOE K.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8106 W. 101 TERRACE
Operator City OVERLAND PARK
Operator State KS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 66212
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BKD
Destination City
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --