Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Temple, Texas 76501
Sunday, July 4, 1999 14:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built aerobatic airplane impacted power lines during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that after 1.8 hours of flight and 3 miles from his destination airport the 'engine stopped.' He stated that the fuel pressure gauge was indicating 'no pressure.' The pilot then turned on the fuel boost pump and ensured the mixture was rich, the throttle was full open, and the fuel selector was in the on position. He elected to make a forced landing to a field. During the emergency approach to the field, the engine 'began to run again;' however, it ran for only 30 to 45 seconds. The pilot then attempted a forced landing on a road, and the airplane impacted power lines, which the pilot stated that he 'never saw.' The FAA inspector reported that the main fuel tank contained approximately 4 gallons of fuel, and there was no header tank installed. Without a header tank, the airplane's unusable fuel while maneuvering is 5 gallons.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of fuel moving away from the fuel supply outlets during maneuvering with a low fuel level, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during the ensuing forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TEMPLE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76501
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1357 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TPL
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4600
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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 841
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N69CS
NTSB Number FTW99LA181
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 Pitts Special
Aircraft Model S-1C
Aircraft Series Identifier S-1C
Aircraft Serial Number DEB-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALAN JAMES GARCIA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1003 JUSTIN LANE, APT. 2095
Aircraft Owner City AUSTIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78757
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 TPL
Departure City
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TPL
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --