St. Elmo, Alabama Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Theodore, Alabama 36601
Thursday, June 27, 2002 12:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he was focused on navigating and avoiding bad weather and did not pay enough attention to the fuel level. He said fuel burn was higher than planned, groundspeed was slower than planned, and the low fuel light came on, indicating four gallons remaining. The pilot located a field for landing but elected to continue to an airport, because the field did not appear large enough to allow for takeoff after fueling. While en route to the airport, the engine lost power, and the pilot landed the airplane in a peanut field and collided with bushes. The wreckage was found in the bushes on the west edge of a peanut field about 6 miles east of the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing was separated from the airframe and the nose sustained damage. No fuel was recovered from the fuel system, nor did the pilot report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate inflight planning for required fuel resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Theodore
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36601
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 303120N
Event Location Longitude 0880859W
Event Location Airport St. Elmo, Alabama
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2R5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 96
Airport Elevation 133
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID MOB
Elevation of weather observation facility 219
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) 1943
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMOB 271756Z 19015KT 10SM FEW035TCU 31/23 A3
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 12662
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 25 2003 9:38AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO - 09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2214W
NTSB Number ATL02LA134
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 Fay
Aircraft Model Velocity Elite
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number V420
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 45
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David Anthony Fay
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4640 East Flamingo Road Suite 105
Aircraft Owner City Las Vegas
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89121
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 X26
Departure City Sebastian
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HDC
Destination City Hammond
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2002 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record CHRS
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 --