Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Show Low, Arizona 85901
Sunday, September 27, 1992 9:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD JUST PICKED UP THE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT SAID HE LOOKED INSIDE THE FUEL TANKS AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ABOUT HALF FULL. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT USE A DIP STICK OR OTHER MEASURING DEVICE TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT AND THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. VEHICLE TRAFFIC PRECLUDED THE PILOT LANDING ON A HIGHWAY AND HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CONFINED FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH JUNIPER TREES SHORT OF THE FIELD. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED FINDING NO FUEL IN THE LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL. THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL. THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED AND FOUND TO CONTAIN ONLY 2.5 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SHOW LOW
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85901
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
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 --
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2922
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 27 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47768
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1104Y
NTSB Number LAX92LA406
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 150B
Aircraft Series Identifier 150B
Aircraft Serial Number 15059504
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 26 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 4400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD L. EVANS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 921 N. 33RD AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City SHORW LOW
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD L. EVANS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 921 N. 33RD AVENUE
Operator City SHORW LOW
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85901
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 845
Departure Time Zone MST
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 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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --