Elm Creek Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seguin, Texas 78155
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane climb after takeoff. While still at a low altitude, the airplane was seen to bank to the right, enter a spin, and impact the ground in a near vertical attitude. Witnesses who responded to the scene reported smelling fuel but did not see any fuel dripping from the wreckage. The fuel lines, fuel filter, and fuel bowl were examined and no fuel was found. The lack of fuel combined with no evidence of propeller rotation during impact is consistent with a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate fuel on board and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control following an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Seguin
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78155
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293019N
Event Location Longitude 0975929W
Event Location Airport Elm Creek Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0TX6
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 550
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1551 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 651
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30513
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2012 4:52PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8700T
NTSB Number CEN11LA041
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Donegan Benton
Aircraft Model Kitfox II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 285
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 605
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James L. Best
Aircraft Owner Street Address 325 Tailwind Drive
Aircraft Owner City Seguin
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78155
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James L. Best
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 325 Tailwind Drive
Operator City Seguin
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78155
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 0TX6
Departure City Seguine
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0TX6
Destination City Seguine
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2012 2:03PM
User who most recently changed record bakd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --