Barnes Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
Sunday, October 30, 1994 18:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A 750 MILE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN HIS AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED TO THEIR CAPACITY OF 88 GALLONS. DURING THE ARRIVAL AND DESCENT AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER. THE PILOT DECIDED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS EXTENDED, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WIRES AND NOSED OVER ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO ODOR OF FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. EXAMINATION OF THE 5 FUEL TANKS REVEALED ONLY 8 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE LEFT SPONSON TANK AND 12 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE CENTER FUSELAGE TANK. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION WAS COMPLETED AND THE ENGINE PRODUCED RATED POWER AND SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper in-flight planning and inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent forced landing at night.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1825
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WESTFIELD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01085
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BARNES MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BAF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID BAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 271
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1906
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2002 9:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N85JW
NTSB Number NYC95LA019
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 LAKE
Aircraft Model LA-250
Aircraft Series Identifier LA-250
Aircraft Serial Number 66
Certified Max Gross Weight 3180
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
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 THOMAS E. CAMPBELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address KINNE BROOK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City HUNTINGTOM
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01050
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JWN
Departure City NASHVILLE
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BAF
Destination City BARNES MUNI
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --