Covington Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covington, Georgia 30209
Monday, February 23, 1998 12:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot experienced a total loss of engine power and made a forced landing in a grassy field. During touch down, the nose wheel sheared off, the nose strut dug into soft terrain, and the airplane nosed-over. FAA investigators found empty fuel tanks and no evidence of fuel spillage. The pilot stated, in part, 'I do believe it was fuel exhaustion...'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and/or improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Soft/wet terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City COVINGTON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30209
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COVINGTON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9A1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 115
Airport Elevation 795
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1227 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 55
Weather Observation Facility ID AHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 700
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 113
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1734U
NTSB Number MIA98LA083
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier T210N
Aircraft Serial Number 21064735
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 125
Airframe Hours 2350
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEGNOR ELECTRIC CONTROLS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35432 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LIVONIA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48150
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THEODORE ARENS
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 FLL
Departure City FT LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RYY
Destination City MARIETTA
Destination State GA
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 --