Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Placid, Florida 33852
Monday, May 27, 1991 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT FAILED TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM A FUSELAGE TANK WHICH SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE ENG FOR STARTING, TO THE MAIN TANKS BEFORE TAKEOFF, AS REQUIRED. THE FLT DEPARTED & DURING CRUISE FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT INTENTIONALLY STOPPED THE PROP BUT AFTER REALIZING THAT THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANKS & INITIATED A DESCENT TO START THE ENG BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN A FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAKE PLACID
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33852
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
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 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1080
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44026
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 N1344Z
NTSB Number MIA91LA154
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 LAROCQUE, RAYMOND E.
Aircraft Model VARI-EZE
Aircraft Series Identifier VARI-EZE
Aircraft Serial Number 847
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 930
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAROCQUE, RAYMOND E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 KNIGHT WAY APT. 514
Aircraft Owner City FAYETVILLE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30214
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LAROCQUE, RAYMOND E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 100 KNIGHT WAY APT. 514
Operator City FAYETVILLE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30214
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 X53
Departure City CLEWISTON
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2A9
Destination City PEACHTREE CITY
Destination State GA
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 --