Livermore Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Livermore, California 94550
Thursday, July 24, 2003 10:54 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial pilot reported a loss of engine power during cruise flight. He said he noted the fuel pressure dropping, and he pushed full forward on the throttle. He indicated he also turned the fuel boost pump on, and switched fuel tanks, although he does not recall which tank the fuel selector was on at the time of the power loss. He was unable to restore power, and a forced landing was made in vineyard. Postaccident inspection of airplane disclosed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Recovery personnel stated that a quarter ounce of fuel was drained from the fuel strainer, 7 ounces from the left tank, and 9.8 gallons from the right tank. An FAA inspector was present when the engine was inspected and ran. Fresh gasoline was added to the left fuel tank, and the engine was started and run without any observed abnormalities.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during cruise flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1054
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Livermore
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94550
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374136N
Event Location Longitude 1214913W
Event Location Airport LIVERMORE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LVK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 386
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) 2568
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16957
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-OAK-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N386TC
NTSB Number LAX03LA243
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 Beech
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-9906
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2610
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRUMAN F. CAMPBELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1873 N. Fine #101
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93727
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 RNO
Departure City Reno
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RHV
Destination City San Jose
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2004 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --