Brookville Air-Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brookville, Ohio 45309
Saturday, February 21, 1998 23:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Before takeoff, the pilot determined that the airplane had approximately 30 gallons of fuel, by visually looking into the fuel tanks and using fuel burn calculations from the airplane's last flight. The airplane departed, drawing fuel from the left tank. While en route, the pilot noticed that the left fuel gauge was indicating empty, and switched the fuel selector to the right tank. Concerned about low fuel, the pilot diverted to refuel. Prior to landing, the pilot switched the fuel selector back to the left tank. On final approach, the pilot elected to go-around with full flaps. The airplane climbed to about 30 feet, and continued for about 1/2 mile, then turned back to the airport. Upon completion of the turn, the engine lost total power. The airplane lost altitude, stalled, and impacted trees, rupturing both fuel tanks. There was approximately a 1 gallon fuel spill, on the pavement, under each of the ruptured fuel tanks. There was no evidence of fuel spillage in the area where the fuel tanks had been ruptured, and no fuel was observed in the fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of the fuel supply.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/21/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2340
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BROOKVILLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45309
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 BROOKVILLE AIR-PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID I62
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1037
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2251 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 265
Weather Observation Facility ID DAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1010
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
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) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1966
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 22 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 10 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5625L
NTSB Number NYC98LA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-5
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5
Aircraft Serial Number AA-5-0225
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 May 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 3166
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLENN F PUGH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4292 PLATT RD
Aircraft Owner City CAMDEN
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45311
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 C89
Departure City STURTEVANT
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 2010
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code I65
Destination City NEW LEBANON
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 10 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --