Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Benton City, Washington 99320
Sunday, August 21, 1994 9:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE DESCENDING TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD; HOWEVER, DUE TO STRONG WINDS AT THE SURFACE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON THE SOFT DIRT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ENGINE, BUT THAT HE SUSPECTED FUEL STARVATION THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SOFT TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BENTON CITY
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99320
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
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 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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 1301
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 940
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N47AT
NTSB Number SEA94LA217
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 ALLEN D. POTTS
Aircraft Model WAG-A-BOND
Aircraft Series Identifier WAG-A-BOND
Aircraft Serial Number 147
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 20 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 444
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name POTTS, ALLEN D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 716
Aircraft Owner City LAKESIDE
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59922
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name POTTS, ALLEN D.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 215 CAROLINE POINT RD
Operator City LAKESIDE
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59922
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 59S
Departure City VANCOUVER
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code S98
Destination City KENNEWICK
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --