Mahlon Sweet Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eugene, Oregon 97455
Thursday, March 19, 1992 9:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE BELLANCA 17-31A WAS ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND THE FUEL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO. AT THAT TIME HE WAS BURNING FUEL OUT OF THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK (THE FLIGHT MANUAL DIRECTS PILOTS TO USE ONLY THE MAIN TANKS FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING, AND SAYS TO USE THE AUXILIARY TANKS IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY). HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY SWITCHING TO ONE OF THE MAIN TANKS. WHEN THIS WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL HE THEN SWITCHED TO THE OTHER MAIN TANK. WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, HE LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD, BUT FLIPPED OVER ON LANDING ROLL AFTER HITTING A DITCH. THE PILOT DID NOT ACTIVATE THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP AS CALLED FOR BY THE FLIGHT MANUAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER THE FUEL PRESSURE IS LOST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN IMPROPER FUEL BOOST PUMP SELECTOR POSITION, AND INCORRECT PROCEDURES. FACTORS INCLUDE AN IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION, AND FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/19/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EUGENE
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97455
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAHLON SWEET FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EUG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 340
Airport Elevation 1500
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) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
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 Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 306
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46479
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8266R
NTSB Number SEA92LA063
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-31A
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-31A
Aircraft Serial Number 32-77
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BASH, GAIL S.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13207 NE FAILING ST.
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97230
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BASH, GAIL S.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 13207 NE FAILING ST.
Operator City PORTLAND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97230
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TTD
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EUG
Destination City EUGENE
Destination State OR
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 16
Runway Length 6202
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --