New Century Aircenter Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eudora, Kansas 66025
Friday, August 6, 2004 9:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that they were returning after an approximately 30 minute local flight when the engine began to run rough. The airplane was established in a descent and the pilot leveled off at 1,200 feet above ground level. He stated that he moved the mixture control to full rich, however, the engine quit completely. The pilot stated he saw an open field to his right and set-up for a forced landing. He reported that due to the low altitude, he did not switch fuel tanks or attempt to determine the cause of the loss of engine power. The pilot stated the airplane touched down in the field on the main landing gear. He attempted to hold the nose wheel off the ground as long as possible, however, when it dropped the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted. A post-accident examination was conducted. Fuel was leaking out of the left tank cap and when the cap was loosened fuel began pouring out of the tank. The right fuel tank cap was secure and when removed, the tank appeared to be empty. No evidence of fuel on the ground was observed at the accident site. The cockpit fuel selector was set to the right tank. Inspection of the fuel system did not reveal any anomalies. No debris was observed in samples taken from the system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's selection of a fuel tank with an insufficient quantity remaining.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Eudora
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66025
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385617N
Event Location Longitude 0950557W
Event Location Airport New Century Aircenter
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IXD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 12
Degrees magnetic from airport 310
Airport Elevation 1087
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID IXD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1087
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KIXD 061353Z 13007KT 10SM CLR 19/14 A3022 RM
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17408
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2005 6:20AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Wichita FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9442L
NTSB Number CHI04LA238
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 American Aviation Corp. (AAC)
Aircraft Model AA-1A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA1A-0242
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert G. Hutchison
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18409 S. Hickory St.
Aircraft Owner City Gardner
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66030
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 IXD
Departure City Olathe
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code IXD
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --