20111101024989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2 · Borger, TX · November 1, 2011

Date: November 1, 2011 · 17:35 local
Place: Borger, TX
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N711W
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12CA051
Reported as: Downer Bellanca 14-19-2
Reported engine: Continental O-470 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 678 total31 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N711WRegistered now · Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2S/N 4044 Airframe modelDowner BELLANCA 14-19-2 Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot of N711W was flying from plainview, Texas to Borger, Texas. Approximately 22 miles from Borger as the pilot started a descent he decided to switch fuel tanks and as he leveled off the engine quit. The pilot attempted a restart but the attempt failed and he landed in a field 6 miles short of the airport. In the investigation it was discovered that the pilot had failed to change the fuel selector to the tank that had fuel in it. The pilot later realized that during the engine failure he had reached for the wrong knob to attempt to switch fuel tanks. This pilot error caused him to do an off airport landing

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT OF N711W WAS FLYING FROM PLAINVIEW, TEXAS TO BORGER, TEXAS. APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES FROM BORGER AS THE PILOT STARTED A DESCENT HE DECIDED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND AS HE LEVELED OFF THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART BUT THE ATTEMPT FAILED AND HE LANDED IN A FIELD 6 MILES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. IN THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PILOT HAD FAILED TO CHANGE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE TANK THAT HAD FUEL IN IT. THE PILOT LATER REALIZED THAT DURING THE ENGINE FAILURE HE HAD REACHED FOR THE WRONG KNOB TO ATTEMPT TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS. THIS PILOT ERROR CAUSED HIM TO DO AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN12CA051Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBorger, TXA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention with the broken fuel gauge knob.Nov 1, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N711W · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19830730052359ILevel Off Touchdown · Lexington, KYPilot reported radio problems. Diverted from controlled airport to a Private strip. Landed gear up.Jul 30, 1983 · Minor damage