# Accident 20221014016179A: Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, Pell City, AL, October 14, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 14, 2022, 16:50 local time
- Place: Pell City, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5588° N, 86.2491° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5588&lon=-86.2491&mi=10
- Aircraft: N302BM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N302BM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2 (registry code 05627HZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcglaughlin-richard-sportsman-gs2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-390 series (registry code 41678, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCGLAUGHLIN RICHARD SPORTSMAN GS2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 420 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221014016179A

## Narrative

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

WHILE PERFORMING AIR WORK, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO STUDDERED AND QUIT.  THE PILOT MADE AND EMERGENCY LANDING IN

A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES EAST OF THE PELL CITY, AL (KPLR) AIRPORT.  UPON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE FIELD.THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 21 AT THE ST. CLAIR COUNTY AIRPORT (KPLR). AFTER THE THIRD TOUCH AND GO HE DEPARTED THE PATERN AND PROCEEDED TO THE TRAINING AREA SOUTH EAST OF THE AIRPORT TO PARACTICE MANUEVERS. AT APPROXIMATLY 3.5 MILES AND 2500 FT THE ENGINE STUDDERED AND QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCAFT IN AN OPEN FIELD ACROSS THE ROAD FROM A RESIDENCE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP IN THE RESEDENTS FRONT YARD, COLLAPSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AFTER IMPACT AND CAME TO REST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE RESIDENCE.

POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FOUND THE FUEL GAUGES WERE READING FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PILOT WAS USING THE FUEL TOTALIZER RATHER THAN THE FUEL GAUGES DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CALABRATE THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS TO THE MULTIFUNTION DISPLAY.

## 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 ERA23LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA028), Oct 14, 2022: Mcglaughlin Richard Sportsman GS2 (N302BM), Pell City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion.

## Other reports on N302BM (1)

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

- [Incident 20100221029079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100221029079I), Feb 21, 2010: Mcglaughlin SPORTSMAN G (N302BM), Alexander City, AL, Minor damage. Main landing gear in both floats failed shortly after touchdown on rwy 18 at alx. Suspected air in hydraulic lines.

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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