Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harwinton, Connecticut 06791
Sunday, October 4, 1992 11:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THERE WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR WAS RIPPED OFF AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD PURCHASED 12 GALLONS OF AUTO GAS AND FLOWN FOR 40 MINUTES. HOWEVER, HE HAD NO RECEIPT AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANKS OR FUEL SPILLAGE ON THE GROUND. ADDITIONALLY NO EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND WITH THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND HIS IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH LED TO FUEL EXHAUTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HARWINTON
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06791
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
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 Witness
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2267
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 4 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47034
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1869S
NTSB Number NYC93LA006
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 SMITROVICH
Aircraft Model SE-5A REPLICA
Aircraft Series Identifier SE-5A REPL
Aircraft Serial Number 078258
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 200
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN W. SMITROVICH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 62 DEAN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NEW MILFORD
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06776
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN W. SMITROVICH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 62 DEAN ROAD
Operator City NEW MILFORD
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06776
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 N69
Departure City STORMVILLE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 22B
Destination City BURLINGTON
Destination State CT
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 --