Camden County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Windslow Twp, New Jersey 08095
Sunday, July 13, 2008 19:58 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot incorrectly calculated the fuel consumption for the planned flight to be 3.3 gallons per hour (gph), instead of 5.4 gph as referenced in the operator's manual. After takeoff with a full 10-gallon fuel tank, the pilot flew for approximately 1 hour then turned to return. At that time the fuel gauge showed "1/2" tank. During the return leg, the pilot noticed the fuel quantity gauge was indicating approximately "1/4" tank. He diverted towards a nearby airport, but the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. While descending for the forced landing, the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tank remained intact and was absent of fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1958
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Windslow Twp
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08095
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394708N
Event Location Longitude 0745687W
Event Location Airport Camden County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 19N
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 150
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1954 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID VAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 53
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
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) 29.76
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24273
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2008 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2785A
NTSB Number MIA08CA140
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 Quad City Ultralight Aircraft
Aircraft Model Challenger II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CH 21293-1067
Certified Max Gross Weight 980
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 131
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald Miller
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cinnaminson
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08077
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 N/A
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 N14
Departure City Lumberton
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N14
Destination City Lumberton
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 8 2008 1:23PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --