Pilot Country Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brooksville, Florida 34610
Saturday, March 4, 2006 10:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he had topped off the airplane's fuel tanks in Gallatin, Tennessee, and he had 60 gallons of fuel onboard. He departed at 0625 central daylight time, climbed to 9,000 feet, and the flight's duration was 3 hours 30 minutes. He said he leaned the fuel mixture, observing fuel flows of about 10.5 to 11gallons per hour on his JPI analyzer, and that the quantity of fuel remaining never was less than 20 gallons. Upon reaching his destination airport he said he over-flew the airport to observe the winds, and then flew 6 miles south, twice circling his friend's house, and then returned to land. During the approach, while turning to base he applied 30 degrees of flaps, at which time the engine ceased operating. He said obstacles included trees and utility wires, and during the glide, after avoiding the trees, he selected 40 degrees of flaps in an attempt to balloon over the wires, and the airplane stalled and descended impacting the ground. During the pilot's report of the accident to the NTSB he stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. A witness stated that he saw the accident airplane on downwind, rocking its wings, and he saw it on final approach and as it came over the trees. He said the propeller had stopped rotating, and as he continued watching, it appeared as if the pilot was trying to stretch the glide. He said he saw the airplane stall and descend, impacting the ground a short distance from the runway. On the day of the accident, an FAA inspector responded to the scene of the accident and found no evidence of fuel spillage at the scene. When the airplane was checked, the inspector found about 2 gallons of fuel in the left tank, and no fuel in the right tank. On March 10, 2006, an FAA licensed mechanic, under the supervision of the FAA inspector, conducted a detailed examination of the airplane's airframe and engine, and no anomalies were noted. The accident airplane was equipped with a Texas Skyways Incorporated conversion O-520 -U/TS engine. On July 17, 2007, a technician at Texas Skyways stated to the NTSB that Texas Skyways did not publish endurance documentation for their conversions because of the various models of engines they modified, and their variability in fuel consumption. He further stated that from his experience, climb to cruise fuel consumption for the O-520 U/TS engine, at a rate of climb of about 1,000 feet per minute, at full power, without leaning for changes in altitude would yield a fuel consumption of about 23 gallons per hour. He further stated that with leaning the mixture, and with other climb related adjustments, the average fuel consumption during the climb should be about 18 gallons per hour. At an altitude of 9,000 feet, the technician also estimated that the airplane should consume about 14 gallons per hour, while in cruise flight. In addition, the technician also said that JPI endurance data was consistent with the exhaust and cylinder head temperatures noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight loss of fuel for undetermined reasons which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced landing and damage to the airplane during the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/2006
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1055
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Brooksville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34610
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 281980N
Event Location Longitude 0822978W
Event Location Airport PILOT COUNTRY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X05
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 80
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID BKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 77
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21951
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date May 10 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charleston, West Virginia FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9138C
NTSB Number MIA06LA062
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31237
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4090.89
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James L. Johnson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20 Lake Drive
Aircraft Owner City Lebanon
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37087
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 M33
Departure City GALLATIN
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code X05
Destination City BROOKSVILLE
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 19 2007 11:42AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --