Nueces County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Robstown, Texas 78380
Friday, October 29, 2010 14:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff approximately 50 to 75 feet above ground level. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the airplane's wings and vertical fin. First responders to the accident site reported that they did not notice any fuel draining from the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the right wing tank and approximately 5 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Robstown
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78380
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Nueces County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KRBO
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1405 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RBO
Elevation of weather observation facility --
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 1905Z AUTO 36005KT 10SM CLR 24/M03 A3032
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29003
NTSB Notification Source SAT FSDO: Victor Lopez
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2011 6:52PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3383D
NTSB Number CEN11LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32181
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 43580
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name CHRISTIAN AIR MUSEUM
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 260154
Aircraft Owner City CORPUS CHRISTI
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78426-0154
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CHRISTIAN AIR MUSEUM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 260154
Operator City CORPUS CHRISTI
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78426-0154
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Robstown
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Robstown
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2011 2:02PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --