What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The pilot reported that the fuel level in his main tanks was getting low so he attempted to transfer fuel from the tip tanks only to discover that the transfer pumps were inoperative. He decided to land at the closest airport. The first landing approach was high so he performed a go-around. The second approach was also high, but he elected to land anyway instead of risk running out of fuel during another go-around. The airplane touched down long and fast. It traveled off the runway where it contacted a 12 foot deep ditch which contained 3 feet of water. (-23) pilot made one fly by then attempted landing. Landed long & at high speed, no flaps, lost control, left runway on south side, travelled approximately 500 ft, stopped in ditch at end of runway.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL IN HIS MAIN TANKS WAS GETTING LOW SO HE ATTEMPTED TO TRANSFER FUEL FROM THE TIP TANKS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE TRANSFER PUMPS WERE INOPERATIVE. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT. THE FIRST LANDING APPROACH WAS HIGH SO HE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND. THE SECOND APPROACH WAS ALSO HIGH, BUT HE ELECTED TO LAND ANYWAY INSTEAD OF RISK RUNNING OUT OF FUEL DURING ANOTHER GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG AND FAST. IT TRAVELED OFF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT CONTACTED A 12 FOOT DEEP DITCH WHICH CONTAINED 3 FEET OF WATER. (-23) PILOT MADE ONE FLY BY THEN ATTEMPTED LANDING. LANDED LONG & AT HIGH SPEED, NO FLAPS, LOST CONTROL, LEFT RUNWAY ON SOUTH SIDE, TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 500 FT, STOPPED IN DITCH AT END OF RUNWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N44C · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.