- Date
- April 25, 1997, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Clearwater, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2351VCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970425006589A
- Case key
- 3839
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 failure to select the fuller tank for takeoff that resulted in fuel starvation to the engine, and the subsequent total 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
The pilot reported that he had completed a touch and go landing and was climbing through 400 feet when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a left turn, and elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with the ground between the two parrellel taxiways. Examination of the aircraft disclosed that there was no fuel in the left main fuel tank. A substantial amount of fuel was recovered from the right main fuel tank. During the initial examination of the cockpit area, the fuel selector was on the left tank. Examination of the airframe failed to disclose a mechanical problem.
Factual narrative
On April 25, 1997, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2351V, collided with the ground during an attempted emergency landing at the Clearwater Air Park, in Clearwater, Florida. The personal flight 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 airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Clearwater, Florida, at 1058.
The pilot reported that he had completed a touch and go landing and was climbing through 400 feet when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a left turn, and elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with the ground between the two parallel taxiways.
Examination of the aircraft disclosed that there was no fuel in the left main fuel tank. A substantial amount of fuel was recovered from the right main fuel tank. During the initial examination of the cockpit area, the fuel selector was on the left tank. Examination of the airframe failed to disclose a mechanical problem. A review of current weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The aircraft operation manual instructs the pilot to "set the fuel selector to the fullest tank. (Do not takeoff on less than 1/4 tank.)"
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2351V
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14587
- Engine
- Continental C-90-F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lester L. Mlinarich
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1996
- Departed
- CLW
- Airport
- CLW · Clearwater Airpark, runway 15, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 518 total · 408 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 10 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.
Other investigations on N2351V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.