Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fellsmere, Florida 32948
Friday, April 19, 1985 9:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN AN OPEN FIELD. ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSEWHEEL STRUCK A DITCH CAUSING IT TO FOLD AND THE ACFT CAME TO A STOP RESTING ON IT'S NOSE. THE PLT HAD DETERMINED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF BY STICKING A TWIG IN THE TANKS. THE FLT LASTED FOR 40 MINS. ACCORDING TO PUBLISHED INFO BY THE ACFT MANUFACTURER, AT 75% POWER AT 1000 FT, FUEL CONSUMPTION IS 10 GPH. THE PLT STATED HE THOUGHT HE HAD 22 GALS OF FUEL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS BY FAA PERSONNEL AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 925
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FELLSMERE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32948
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 4
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 932
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID VRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 24
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 848
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1610
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28075
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5836P
NTSB Number MIA85LA149
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-917
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 4175
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD E. MCCLAMATHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5700 SUNRISE DR.
Aircraft Owner City ST. PETERSBURG
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM . RUMPF
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 240 57 AVE.
Operator City ST.PETERSBURG
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33705
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 X32
Departure City ELLENTON
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VERB
Destination City VERO BEACH
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --