Wamego Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wamego, Kansas 66547
Saturday, June 21, 1997 16:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was fueled with 32.2 gallons of usable fuel prior to departure. While on final approach during the second leg of a cross country flight, the pilot spotted parachutists over the airport. He applied power to go-around at which time the engine did not respond. The airplane collided with the terrain while the pilot attempted to avoid powerlines. Inspection of the wreckage revealed 20 ounces of fuel in the left fuel tank which was selected. The right fuel tank was empty. No fuel was found in the carburetor nor was there any signs of fuel leakage at the accident site.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inaccurate preflight planning which resulted in an inadequate fuel supply for the flight and ultimately fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the powerlines and the parachutists over the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WAMEGO
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66547
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 WAMEGO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 69K
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 996
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID MHK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1056
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 367
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 21 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1635
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6535R
NTSB Number CHI97LA175
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 Beech
Aircraft Model C23
Aircraft Series Identifier C23
Aircraft Serial Number M1578
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 6 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 175
Airframe Hours 2274
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JASON C. WHITFIELD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2312 SILVERTHORNE DR.
Aircraft Owner City DALLAS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75287
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SPW
Departure City SPENCER
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 69K
Destination City
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 --