Fort Worth Meacham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Worth, Texas 76106
Monday, November 5, 2007 11:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was en route to his landing destination when he experienced a total loss of engine power. Unable to make the nearby airport, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a field near a highway. For undetermined reasons, the metering unit's throttle arm and throttle cable became separated in flight causing the engine stop producing power. The separated throttle prevented the pilot from successfully restarting the engine. No evidence of metal deformation or gouging existed on either the throttle arm or throttle cable linkage, suggesting that a castellated nut with pin was not installed or improperly installed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the operator to ensure that the metering unit's throttle arm and throttle cable were secured using manufacturer approved hardware. A contributing factor to the pilot's injuries was the lack of shoulder retraints.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/5/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Fort Worth
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76106
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325011N
Event Location Longitude 0972147W
Event Location Airport FORT WORTH MEACHAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FTW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 710
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 710
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 23287
NTSB Notification Source FTW FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Nov 5 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Worth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7208B
NTSB Number DFW08LA025
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 J35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-5499
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4432
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address 537 Aviator Drive
Aircraft Owner City Fort Worth
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76179
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 TME
Departure City Brookshire
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code T67
Destination City FORT WORTH
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2008 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 7501
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --