What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Experimental aircraft performing flight testing at 15,500 feet MSL. At takeoff, pilot determined that 104 gallons of fuel was onboard aircraft. While at altitude, pilot stated engine quit due to apparent fuel starvation. However, aircraft fuel totalizer estimated 44.2 gallons of fuel remained. Pilot contacted memphis center for the nearest airport location, which turned out to be van buren, MO airport. Aircraft spiraled down to airport and pilot elected to land off the runway onto the grass due to runway dropoff at the end. Aircraft propellers contacted soft ground prior to coming to rest resulting in bent propeller blades. Other notable aircraft damage was to the aircraft skin next to landing gear. Crew suspects fuel leak from underside of right wing. There were no injuries. Second pilot onboard aircraft was performing flight engineer/recording duties only.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT PERFORMING FLIGHT TESTING AT 15,500 FEET MSL. AT TAKEOFF, PILOT DETERMINED THAT 104 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ONBOARD AIRCRAFT. WHILE AT ALTITUDE, PILOT STATED ENGINE QUIT DUE TO APPARENT FUEL STARVATION. HOWEVER, AIRCRAFT FUEL TOTALIZER ESTIMATED 44.2 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED. PILOT CONTACTED MEMPHIS CENTER FOR THE NEAREST AIRPORT LOCATION, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE VAN BUREN, MO AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT SPIRALED DOWN TO AIRPORT AND PILOT ELECTED TO LAND OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE GRASS DUE TO RUNWAY DROPOFF AT THE END. AIRCRAFT PROPELLERS CONTACTED SOFT GROUND PRIOR TO COMING TO REST RESULTING IN BENT PROPELLER BLADES. OTHER NOTABLE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS TO THE AIRCRAFT SKIN NEXT TO LANDING GEAR. CREW SUSPECTS FUEL LEAK FROM UNDERSIDE OF RIGHT WING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SECOND PILOT ONBOARD AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING FLIGHT ENGINEER/RECORDING DUTIES ONLY.
Other reports on N155JD · 1
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