Leo's Place Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Riley, Kansas 66531
Saturday, October 1, 2011 17:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had finished flying for the day and had turned off the fuel shutoff valve and tied the airplane down. He noticed a family with a 10-year-old boy at the airport and offered to give the boy a ride around the field. The pilot untied the airplane, put the boy in the back seat, started the engine, and taxied to the runway. During takeoff, about 30 feet above ground level, the engine stopped and the airplane impacted the ground and obstructions on the edge of the airport. The impact collapsed the left main landing gear and deformed the forward lower fuselage, causing substantial damage. The pilot reported that he had failed to complete a preflight cockpit check and did not turn on the fuel shutoff valve. In addition, the pilot reported that shoulder harnesses were installed and available but were not worn.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to ensure that the fuel shutoff valve was turned on before departure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/1/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Riley
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66531
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 391808N
Event Location Longitude 0964519W
Event Location Airport Leo's Place Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1KS3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1350
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 156
Weather Observation Facility ID KMHK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1066
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KMHK 012152z 09006KT 10SM CLR 24/M02 A3020
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29317
NTSB Notification Source FAA ACE Regional Comm Center -
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 28 2011 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2417T
NTSB Number CEN12CA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SADLER TERRY
Aircraft Model RANS S-7 COURIER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0496185
Certified Max Gross Weight 1232
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 186
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name MAURICE D SHARP
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WAKEFIELD
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67487-0111
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MAURICE D SHARP
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WAKEFIELD
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 67487-0111
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 1KS3
Departure City Riley
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1710
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1KS3
Destination City Riley
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 28 2011 12:12PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 1100
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --