Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
Fort Collins Downtown Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
Saturday, June 28, 2003 11:20 MDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses observed the airplane turn around towards the airport, depart controlled flight, and impact the ground near the southeast corner of the airport. The witnesses also said they heard the engine sputter as the airplane was attempting to return to the airport. An examination of the airplane showed witness marks in the cockpit floor panel consistent with the fuel selector valve handle being in the "Off" position at impact. An examination of the engine intake valves and spark plugs showed evidence consistent with operating the engine with a lean mixture. On removal of the number 3 cylinder bottom spark plug, the smell of alcohol, consistent with the use of starter fluid, was evident. No evidence of fuel was found in the carburetor. No other anomalies were found. FAA toxicology testing of the pilot showed concentrations of Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, and Azacyclonol in urine.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
the pilot's improper preflight planning/decision resulting in the fuel selector positioned improperly and fuel starvation, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed. A factor contributing to the accident was the low altitude.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/28/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1120 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Daylight Time |
| Event City | Fort Collins |
| Event State | COLORADO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 80524 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 403516N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1050227W |
| Event Location Airport | Fort Collins Downtown Airpark |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | 3V5 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0.5 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 110 |
| Airport Elevation | 4935 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1135 Mountain Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 155 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | FNL |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 5016 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 8 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | MDT |
| 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) | 22 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 8 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 0 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 0 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.07 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 6887 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 14575 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA COMM CTR |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jun 28 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1216 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 30 2003 8:55AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Denver, Colorado FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N29PT |
| NTSB Number | DEN03FA114 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Stugart |
| Aircraft Model | Vans RV-6A |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 20033 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1800 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Conditional |
| Date of Last Inspection | Oct 1 2002 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 33.6 |
| Airframe Hours | 508.6 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | James W. Stugart |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1900 Mayfield Drive |
| Aircraft Owner City | Round Rock |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 78681 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | 3V5 |
| Departure City | Fort Collins |
| Departure State | CO |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1120 |
| Departure Time Zone | MDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | 2V2 |
| Destination City | Longmont |
| Destination State | CO |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 11 2006 11:15AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\HAMG |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 11 |
| Runway Length | 5300 |
| Runway Width | 44 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |