Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gunnison, Colorado 81230
Sunday, June 14, 1992 11:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TOPPING OFF THE 60 GALLON USABLE FUEL TANKS AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT, ENGLEWOOD, CO, THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHTS TOTALLING 3.1 HOURS. THREE DAYS LATER, HE AND TWO PASSENGERS FLEW TO NUCLA, CO, IN 1.7 HOURS, AND PURCHASED 15 GALLONS OF FUEL. THEY CONTINUED ON TO BULLFROG BASIN, UT, IN 0.9 HOURS. ON THE RETURN TRIP THE NEXT DAY, AFTER FLYING 1.2 HOURS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. DURING LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE RETRIEVAL CREW SAID THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FLY TO GUNNISON, CO, IN 1.4 HOURS WITH AN 8 GALLON RESERVE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTOR(S) INCLUDED: FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE MISJUDGING OF FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GUNNISON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81230
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
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 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) 411
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46338
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52658
NTSB Number DEN92LA059
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 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 177RG
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG1234
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Jul 11 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 165
Airframe Hours 1930
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COLORADO COMPUTER ASSOCIATES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6851 HIGHWAY 73
Aircraft Owner City EVERGREEN
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80439
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NEWKIRK, JOHN J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6821 HIGHWAY 73
Operator City EVERGREEN
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80439
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 U07
Departure City BULLFROG
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --