Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Maine 04173
Sunday, May 12, 1991 14:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE HAD FILLED THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND ADDED 10 GALLONS TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK FOR A FLIGHT HE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 50 MINUTES IN DURATION. ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION THE PILOT THOUGHT THE FUEL GAGES WERE READING TOO LOW. HE DESCENDED, BANKED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHECK FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT WAS TOO LOW TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING INTO TREES. THE FAA EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 18 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND FOUND THE RIGHT TANK EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURE BY NOT PLACING THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE TANK WITH THE MOST FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A FORCED LANDING IN TREES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04173
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 --
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) 40
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 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) 1908
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45847
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1745R
NTSB Number NYC91LA234
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 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier 185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18502465
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 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 JAMES K. FISKE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 484 SHARONERS POND RD
Aircraft Owner City NORTH ANDOVER
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02845
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGE GRINNALL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 20 ISLAND POND RD
Operator City DERRY
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03035
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 GVE
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City DERRY
Destination State NH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --