What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 01/18/09 at 1501 LCL, aircraft N4443K, a Ryan Navion, departed gillette, WY (gcc) with full fuel and 4 soles on board bound for Three Forks, MT (9S5). The aircraft is configured with 2 aux wingtip tanks and the main tank system. The pilot switched from the main tank to a tip tank, after takeoff, as planned. While enroute, he switched to the other tip tank when the first ran dry. The pilot stated that his plan was to switch back to the main tank prior to landing; that he forgot to do so; and that he did not use a pre-landing checklist. At 1720 LCL, on a 2 mile straight-in final approach to runway 20 at 9S5, the engine quit at pattern altitude. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the main position, but the engine would not start quick enough as he lost altitude. In preparation for an off-field landing, the pilot selected the fuel off position and veered to his left for an open portion of a brush and grass field. The aircraft landed on the main gear and came to a stop in 258 feet; bearing 115 degrees; into mature alder brush. The nose gear collapsed aft and the aircraft sustained damage to the prop, engine, cowl, wing leading edges and the r/h tip tank separated from the wing. No injuries were sustained by the 4 occupants.
As the FAA filed it
ON 01/18/09 AT 1501 LCL, AIRCRAFT N4443K, A RYAN NAVION, DEPARTED GILLETTE, WY (GCC) WITH FULL FUEL AND 4 SOLES ON BOARD BOUND FOR THREE FORKS, MT (9S5). THE AIRCRAFT IS CONFIGURED WITH 2 AUX WINGTIP TANKS AND THE MAIN TANK SYSTEM. THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM THE MAIN TANK TO A TIP TANK, AFTER TAKEOFF, AS PLANNED. WHILE ENROUTE, HE SWITCHED TO THE OTHER TIP TANK WHEN THE FIRST RAN DRY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS PLAN WAS TO SWITCH BACK TO THE MAIN TANK PRIOR TO LANDING; THAT HE FORGOT TO DO SO; AND THAT HE DID NOT USE A PRE-LANDING CHECKLIST. AT 1720 LCL, ON A 2 MILE STRAIGHT-IN FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 20 AT 9S5, THE ENGINE QUIT AT PATTERN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START QUICK ENOUGH AS HE LOST ALTITUDE. IN PREPARATION FOR AN OFF-FIELD LANDING, THE PILOT SELECTED THE FUEL OFF POSITION AND VEERED TO HIS LEFT FOR AN OPEN PORTION OF A BRUSH AND GRASS FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE MAIN GEAR AND CAME TO A STOP IN 258 FEET; BEARING 115 DEGREES; INTO MATURE ALDER BRUSH. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFT AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PROP, ENGINE, COWL, WING LEADING EDGES AND THE R/H TIP TANK SEPARATED FROM THE WING. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE 4 OCCUPANTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.