Marble Canyon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marble Canyon, Arizona 86036
Sunday, September 5, 1993 8:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that no services were obtained at Cedar City, Utah, prior to departure. The pilot said that the fuel gages indicated a total quantity of about 35 gallons on board at takeoff and he planned to fly to Flagstaff, Arizona, with a refueling stop at Page, Arizona, and a passenger drop off at Marble Canyon. Near Page, the pilot observed that the fuel gages indicated about one quarter in each tank and he elected to drop the one passenger at Marble Canyon first, then fly to Page for fuel. After landing at Marble Canyon the passenger was deplaned and the aircraft started and taxied to runway 21 for departure. The pilot reported that at about 100 feel AGL in the initial climb the engine surged then quit. The aircraft nosed over after encountering rough terrain and obstacles in the off runway forced landing. According to the aircraft retrieval firm who picked up the aircraft, the right fuel tank was 'bone dry,' and, the fuel selector was found positioned to the right tank. The left fuel tank contained an estimated 8 gallons of fuel. Fuel system continuity was established with no evidence of line or tank disruption.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the aircraft and his failure to refuel the aircraft either prior to departure or enroute.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City MARBLE CANYON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86036
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MARBLE CANYON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L41
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 3603
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1125
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9454G
NTSB Number LAX93LA343
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model TU206G
Aircraft Series Identifier TU206G
Aircraft Serial Number U20601654
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 5600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4115
Aircraft Owner City FLAGSTAFF
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL M. SCHAFER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4462 E. DRIFTER WAY
Operator City FLAGSTAFF
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 86004
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 840
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PGA
Destination City PAGE
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 21
Runway Length 3715
Runway Width 25
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --