Buena Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena, Washington 98953
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 16:53 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that he had been performing touch-and-go practice takeoff and landings at a private airstrip. After approximately 10 landings, he taxied the airplane back to the parking area where he met with the former owner of the airplane and discussed the flight. After a short conversation, the pilot taxied to the end of the runway and departed to the east. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power and he attempted to land in a nearby field. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing assembly. The pilot attributed the loss of engine power to a lack of fuel, stating that the airplane's fuel supply was exhausted. The former owner of the airplane, who also witnessed the accident, responded to the accident site and reported observing no fuel in the fuel tank, lines, or filter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the student pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/3/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1653
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Buena
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98953
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 462635N
Event Location Longitude 1202027W
Event Location Airport Buena
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WA97
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 830
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 293
Weather Observation Facility ID YKM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1099
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KYKM 031653Z 26004KT 10SM OVC047 08/05 A2981
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) 27574
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC Seattle
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2010 5:51PM
User who most recently changed record ricj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6233V
NTSB Number WPR10LA150
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 MUFFETT
Aircraft Model QUICKSLVR SPRNT II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1992 SPRINT 395
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REGISTRATION PENDING
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 8358
Aircraft Owner City YAKIMA
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98908-0358
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michael E. Albertson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Yakima
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98908
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code WA97
Departure City Buena
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code WA97
Destination City Buena
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2010 5:39PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --