Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Petersburg, Florida 33711
Saturday, February 19, 1983 11:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THIS WAS THE PLT'S 2ND FLT IN HIS HOME BUILT ACFT. DURING HIS PREFLIGHT, HE CHECKED THE SIGHT GAUGE FOR FUEL, BUT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANK. THE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 17 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING. DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND RAN ONLY A FEW SECONDS WHEN A RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED. SUBSEQUENTLY, A CRASH LANDING WAS MADE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD INCORPORATED AN ON/OFF VALVE IN A FUEL LINE TO THE SIGHT GAUGE, SO HE COULD TURN IT OFF IF A FUEL LEAK OCCURRED IN THE GAUGE SYSTEM. HE REPORTED THAT EARLIER, HE HAD TURNED THE VALVE OFF & HAD FORGOTTEN IT, THUS TRAPPING FUEL IN THE GAUGE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 3 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE TOOKOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ST. PETERSBURG
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33711
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 2
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 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 702
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20963
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 N507LS
NTSB Number MIA83FLD01
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
Aircraft Model SPECIAL S-1C
Aircraft Series Identifier SPECIAL S-
Aircraft Serial Number ALS-001
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 Feb 7 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name A. L. STEVENS, DDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5313 GULFPORT BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City GULFPORT
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33707
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 No
Departure Airport Code SPG
Departure City ST. PETERSBURG
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10:36AM
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 --