Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nehawka, Nebraska 68413
Monday, July 13, 1998 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that while in cruise flight the engine suffered a loss of power. He said that in response to the loss of power, he tried the carburetor heat, switched the fuel tank selector, and checked the magnetos. He said that when power was not recovered, he switched the fuel selector back to the tank originally selected, and initiated a forced landing in a crop (corn) field. Subsequent to the accident, the fuel selector was found selected to the right fuel tank. There was no leakage from the tank. When the wings were removed to move the airplane, one quart of fuel was removed from the right tank. After the airplane was righted the engine was started and ran with no noted mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper fuel management and his improper use of the fuel tank selector. Factors were fuel starvation and crops.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City NEHAWKA
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68413
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID LNK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1218
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 687
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1602
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3770A
NTSB Number CHI98LA247
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-2012
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEITH R BALFOUR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1511 SOUTH 42ND STREET
Aircraft Owner City NEHAWKA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68413
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 PMV
Departure City NEBRASKA CITY
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --