Shelburne Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shelburne, Vermont 05482
Friday, October 21, 2005 15:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed his home airport to take aerial photographs of the end of the season tree color changes. After 4.2 hours of flight time, which included an intermediate stop at another airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, no preimpact fuel leaks were discovered, and no evidence of fuel spillage was identified at the scene. Approximately 2 quarts of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. There was no record of the airplane being refueled at the intermediate airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1540
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Shelburne
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05482
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 442149N
Event Location Longitude 0731026W
Event Location Airport Shelburne Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VT8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 325
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID BTV
Elevation of weather observation facility 335
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19269
NTSB Notification Source NROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 24 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, ME

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1693Q
NTSB Number NYC06CA017
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15072993
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 4998
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Steven C. Clark
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chittenden
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05445
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Shelburne Flying Club
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Shelburne
Operator State VT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 05445
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MVL
Departure City Morrisville
Departure State VT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code VT8
Destination City Shelburne
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 22 2005 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --