Gulfport-Biloxi Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gulfport, Mississippi 39503
Wednesday, June 12, 1996 11:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the fuel gauges were inaccurate, registering less fuel than was actually in the fuel tanks. According to his accident report, the pilot took off with five gallons of fuel in the airplane. He flew to a local airport and made a low pass. He then proceeded to another airfield and made a touch-&-go landing. The pilot then contacted approach control at his destination airport for final landing. According to the pilot, the traffic was unusually heavy and the flight was vectored in sequence for landing. On final approach, the pilot advised the controller that the engine had quit, due to lack of fuel. Subsequently, the airplane collided with a power line, then crashed to the ground in a residential area, about one mile north of the airport. During examination of the wreckage, approximately eight ounces of fuel were found in each fuel tank. The fuel caps were in place, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage or seepage from either tank.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/12/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1137
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GULFPORT
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39503
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GULFPORT-BILOXI AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GPT
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 360
Airport Elevation 28
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1147 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID GPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 28
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
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) 456
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 12 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1253
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39018
NTSB Number ATL96LA091
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 Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-1C
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-1C
Aircraft Serial Number AA1C-0186
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 7 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2102
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COLE CONSTRUCTION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 2406
Aircraft Owner City GULFPORT
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT S. COLE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2012 BENT OAKS BLVD
Operator City BILOXI
Operator State MS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 39531
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 3R6
Departure City BAY ST LOUIS
Departure State MS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GPT
Destination City GULFPORT-BILOXI
Destination State MS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --