- Date
- June 4, 2004, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Savannah, TN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N39190Taylorcraft DC-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Memphis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040604017599A
- Case key
- 59516
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Approximately 5 nautical miles from the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered for a forced landing to a hay field. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel. Examination of the wreckage site revealed that the wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the downed airplane. During the examination of the fuel system, approximately one ounce of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies and accessories revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On June 4, 2004, at 1600 central daylight time, aTaylorcraft DC-65, N39190, registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with the ground following a reported loss of engine power near Savannah, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Dayton, Tennessee, on June 4, 2004 at 1240 eastern daylight time.
According to friends of the pilot, he departed Dayton, Tennessee enroute to a resort location in Arkansas. The pilot stated that he departed with a total of 14 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel on board, and planned on making a refueling stop in Savannah, Tennessee. Approximately 5 nautical miles from the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered for a forced landing to a hay field. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel.
The downed airplane was located approximately 310 degrees magnetic, and 5 statute miles from the Savannah Hardin County Airport, Savannah, Tennessee. Examination of the wreckage site revealed that the wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the downed airplane. During the examination of the fuel system, approximately one ounce of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies and accessories revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39190
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft DC-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4197
- Engine
- Continental A65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 12, 2004 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- 2A3 · Dayton, TN
- Destination
- SNH · Savannah, TN
- Airport
- SNH · Savannah Hardin County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 169 total · 11 in this make and model · 13 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- MSL, 39 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.