Wichita Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iowa Park, Texas 76367
Wednesday, November 3, 1999 7:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a go-around, the airplane's engine lost power as a result of fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane, and the previous owner had informed him that the airplane required fuel before its next flight. The pilot was performing high-speed taxi tests and simulated takeoffs on a taxiway when the airplane began to veer toward the edge of the taxiway. The pilot elected to take off and fly one traffic pattern. While on approach to the runway, he realized the airplane's airspeed was high, and he initiated a go-around. As the airplane reached a nose-up attitude, the engine 'sputtered' and lost total power. A forced landing was executed and the airplane impacted the ground. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that there was 'one cup of fuel in the fuselage mounted fuel tank.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City IOWA PARK
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76367
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WICHITA VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID F14
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 45
Airport Elevation 1005
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 856 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID SPS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1019
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1180
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 8 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N415
NTSB Number FTW00LA025
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 Streifthau
Aircraft Model BABY GREAT LAKES
Aircraft Series Identifier BABY GREAT
Aircraft Serial Number 6814K130B
Certified Max Gross Weight 850
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 30 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 370
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID J. COLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BOX 70142
Aircraft Owner City EUGENE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97401
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 F14
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 720
Departure Time Zone CST
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3050
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --