# Accident 20200722012159A: Boeing N2S-3, Jacksonville, AR, July 22, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2020, 17:45 local time
- Place: Jacksonville, AR
- Airport: Franke Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8561° N, 92.0811° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8561&lon=-92.0811&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2158P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2158P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing N2S-3 (registry code 1380146, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-n2s-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING N2S-3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,140 total, 210 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA303) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200722012159A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 22 JUL 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 14:45 (CST), N2158P DEPARTED FRANKE FIELD (79AR) TO PERFORM A BANNER TOW OPERATION OVER SHERWOOD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AND LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. AT APPROXIMATELY 17:45 (CST) WHILE ENROUTE BACK TO 79AR AFTER COMPLETION OF A BANNER TOW OPERATION,  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REACTED LIKE IT HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL, AND THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNER AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WEST OF 79AR IN A PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY. AT THE END OF THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AND POST, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNREMARKABLE; NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE, LEAKAGE, OR FAILURES; FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY; APPROXIMATLEY ONE (1) QUART OF FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM AT THE GASCALATOR. A BANNER TOW OPERATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1.7 HOURS WAS CONDUCTED EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT HAD BEEN CUT SHORT DUE TO WEATHER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NORMALLY FUELED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE TAIL WHEEL REVERSED, LIFTING THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT, THUS ALLOWING FOR MAXIMUM FUEL SERVICING; HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CONFIGURED WITH THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED, APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ADDED, AND HE CALCULATED A 11.8 GPH FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE. HE STATED THAT HE ROUTINELY FLEW THREE (3) HOUR BANNER TOW FLIGHTS AND SERVICED UP TO 35 GALLONS. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT IT HAS A 46 GALLON FUEL TANK, WITH BETWEEN FOUR (4) AND SEVEN (7) GALLONS OF UNUSABLE FUEL, AND AN APPROXIMATE FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF 12 TO 13 GPH IN NORMAL FLIGHT, AND 14 TO 15 FOR ACROBATIC. ASSUMING A FULL FUEL LOAD OF 46 GALLONS, MINUS SEVEN (7) GALLONS UNUSABLE, AND A 13 GPH FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE, A THREE (3) HOUR FLIGHT WOULD RESULT IN ZERO (0) FUEL REMAINING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN20CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA303), Jul 22, 2020: Stearman N2S 3 (N2158P), Jacksonville, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately monitor his fuel quantity during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N2158P (1)

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

- [Accident 19881113053279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881113053279A), Nov 13, 1988: Boeing B75N1 (N2158P), Benton, AR, Substantial damage. On landing rollout a gust caused aircraft to veer right. Used heavy left brake and aircraft nosed over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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