Put In Bay Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Put In Bay, Ohio 43456
Monday, January 20, 2003 9:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, about 300 feet agl, the engine lost all power. The pilot activated the electric fuel pump, and moved the fuel selector several times. However, the engine did not regain power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. After the accident, the pilot stated to a police officer that he might have departed with the fuel selector positioned to an empty tank. The pilot subsequently stated that both fuel gauges indicated "1/4" full, and he could not remember which tank was selected during the takeoff. Additionally, a passenger stated that he did not smell or observe fuel when he exited the airplane. The passenger added that in the past, the pilot had exhausted one fuel tank, then switched to the other tank and the engine re-started. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The right fuel tank contained some fuel, and left fuel tank had ruptured. Following the accident, a successful engine test-run was performed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Put In Bay
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43456
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413812N
Event Location Longitude 0824942W
Event Location Airport Put In Bay Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3W2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 30
Airport Elevation 595
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 955 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID ONZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 591
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13722
NTSB Notification Source FAA GLOC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 20 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland, OH

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9945M
NTSB Number NYC03LA040
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 207A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20700153
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 6283
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Alaska Aircraft Leasing LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Silverdale
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98383
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dairy Air
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Put In Bay
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 43456
Operator Code C8NA
Owner has at least one certificate --
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3W2
Departure City Put In Bay
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PCW
Destination City Port Clinton
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2003 1:42PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 030
Runway Length 2870
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --