Marshfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marshfield, Massachusetts 02050
Wednesday, October 4, 2000 18:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot filled the airplane with 64 gallons of fuel and departed about 1500 for a cross-country flight. While en route to his destination, the pilot encountered thunderstorms and diverted to an alternate airport, due to the deteriorating weather conditions. At 1844, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane's engine 'sputtered' and lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing on the base leg of the traffic pattern. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank contained 1/2 gallon of fuel and the right fuel tank contained 32 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was found in the 'off' position. An operational check of the engine was performed and when fuel was added, the engine ran without hesitation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper management of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation of the engine. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention to the inclement weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MARSHFIELD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02050
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MARSHFIELD AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3B2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 11
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID BOS
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 230
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) 10036
NTSB Notification Source New England Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 4 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6096B
NTSB Number NYC01LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 210
Aircraft Series Identifier 210
Aircraft Serial Number 21062682
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHERN SKIES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
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 PGV
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PWM
Destination City PORTLAND
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2001 4:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 2999
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --