- Date
- January 13, 2004, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Selma, AL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N313MCCurrent Kitfox 313
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Birmingham FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040113001369A
- Case key
- 58660
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 installation, and his failure to secure the main fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation.
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
According to the pilot, he stated that prior to the flight he made adjustment on the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge. The main fuel flow line had been removed to access the area of the EGT gauge. During climb out through 300 feet, the EGT gauge was reading above the maximum temperature, and the engine quit. While maneuvering for the emergency landing the right wing collided with a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. Examination of the flight control system did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Examination of the engine compression, and the ignition system of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Approximately five gallons of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Further examination of the fuel system revealed that the main fuel line was separated from the fuel input port on the carburetor.
Factual narrative
On January 13, 2004, at 1400 central standard time, a Current Kitfox 313, N313MC, registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with the ground while attempting an emergency landing in Selma, Alabama. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Sky Harbor Airport, Selma, Alabama, on January 13, 2004 at 1345.
During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that prior to the flight he made adjustment on the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge. The main fuel flow line had been removed to access the area of the EGT gauge. During climb out through 300 feet, the EGTgauge was reading above the maximum temperature, and the engine quit. While maneuvering for the emergency landing the right wing collided with a tree.
Examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. Examination of the flight control system did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Examination of the engine compression, and the ignition system of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Approximately five gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel system. Further examination of the fuel system revealed that the main fuel line was separated from the fuel input port on the carburetor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N313MC
- Reported as
- Current Kitfox 313
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 313
- Engine
- Bombardier 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald T. Coffee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- S63 · Selma, AL
- Airport
- S63 · Skyharbor
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
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 179 total · 179 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.