Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newberg, Oregon 97132
Sunday, February 25, 2001 14:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en route, the pilot decided to burn the selected (right) tank down to two gallons. As he continued toward his destination, he forgot to switch to the other tank, and the right tank ran dry. During the attempted power-off forced landing that followed, the pilot landed hard, collapsing the main gear and substantially damaging the aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's mismanagement of his available fuel, the fuel starvation of the engine, and the pilot's excessive rate of descent during the touchdown portion of a power-off forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Newberg
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97132
Event Date Year 2001
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10340
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 25 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Hillsboro FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N230VG
NTSB Number SEA01LA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gibbs
Aircraft Model V-6 STOL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 21 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 116
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vern L. Gibbs
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17530 NE Terrys Ln.
Aircraft Owner City Newberg
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97132
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 5S4
Departure City Newport
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 17S
Destination City Newberg
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2001 6:02PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --