Camden Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lugoff, South Carolina 29078
Saturday, June 28, 1997 11:39 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a go-around after an approach to Woodward Field, the engine suddenly 'quit.' Because the pilot believed he was using the fullest tank (the left tank), he elected to not switch tanks as stated in the emergency procedures. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and was forced to execute an off-airport emergency landing. Fuel calculations showed the airplane should have had approximately 29 minutes of fuel remaining. The right tank had ruptured during impact, and it had evidence of hydraulic actuation. The left tank was not ruptured, and it contained approximately 3 gallons of fuel, which was considered unusable by the airframe manufacturer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

improper fuel management by the pilot by not positioning the fuel selector to the fullest tank for landing, which resulted in fuel starvation, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Trees in the emergency landing area were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1139
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LUGOFF
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29078
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAMDEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CDN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 9
Degrees magnetic from airport 235
Airport Elevation 307
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 615
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4863J
NTSB Number ATL97FA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 35-C33A
Aircraft Series Identifier 35-C33A
Aircraft Serial Number CE-125
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HUBBARD AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4835 24TH AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City HUDSONVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49426
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RODNEY A. STEWART
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 709 BARLOW LAKE
Operator City MIDDLEVILLE
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49333
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 08C
Departure City JENISON
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CDN
Destination City CAMDEN
Destination State SC
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 24
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --