Edwards Lucian Wells Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Spring, Texas 79721
Monday, July 6, 1987 14:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLT, THE PLT NOTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD GAINED FUEL. HE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED FROM THE BOTH POSITION TO THE RIGHT TANK AND STARTED TO WORK THE WOBBLE PUMP. THE FUEL CONTINUED TO DROP IN THE LEFT TANK AND THE ACFT LOST PWR IN BOTH ENGINES. THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING THE FORCED LANDING THAT FOLLOWED. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL VENT TO THE RIGHT TANK WAS BLOCKED. IN ADDITION, THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY NOT RUNNING ON BOTH TANKS, PARTICULARLY WITH PARTIAL LOADS OF FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/6/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BIG SPRING
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79721
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EDWARDS LUCIAN WELLS
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 2500
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 1749
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35094
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N322
NTSB Number FTW87LA162
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 GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G-21A
Aircraft Series Identifier G-21A
Aircraft Serial Number B73
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 18870
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILSON C EDWARDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2431
Aircraft Owner City BIG SPRING
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79721
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILSON C. EDWARDS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 2431
Operator City BIG SPRING
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79721
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 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 --