# NTSB ATL97LA097: Ryan Navion, N91519, Cross City, FL, July 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1997, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Cross City, FL - Coordinates: 29.629922, -83.119071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6299&lon=-83.1191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3868/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning that resulted in loss of power in flight due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis According to the FAA, a witness heard an engine sputtering from an airplane overhead. Seconds later, the witness heard the collision of the airplane with the tree. Upon arriving at the accident site the witness found the airplane wreckage in a cow pasture. The pilot indicated in his report there was a loss of fuel pressure for unknown reasons. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by verifying the fuel quantity prior to takeoff. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1997, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Ryan, Navion, N91519, collided with an oak tree and the ground during an attempted forced landing in a cow pasture, 3 statute miles northeast of Cross City Airport, Cross City, Florida. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Cross City Airport about 1115 hours. According to the FAA, a witness heard an engine sputtering from an airplane overhead. Seconds later, the witness heard the collision of the airplane with the tree. Upon arriving, at the accident site, the witness found the airplane wreckage in a cow pasture. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the airplane had collided with an oak tree. The examination also revealed that the right wing tip had collided with the ground. The examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine assembly found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. One fuel tank was ruptured with no evidence of fuel or the odor of fuel at the site. The other tank was not ruptured and there was no evidence of fuel. In the pilot's report of the accident, he stated that was a loss of fuel pressure for unknown reasons. He also stated, the accident could have been prevented by verifying the fuel quantity before takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91519](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91519-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N NAV-4-314, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ryan NAVION - Registry model: [Ryan NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion) (registry code 6150160) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-314 - Engines: Continental E185-9 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James W Macfarlane - Registered owner: Franklin Engineering Limited - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 1997 - Departed: CTY, FL - Destination: FL10, MCALPIN, FL - Airport: CTY, Cross City ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 950 total, 800 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 60 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970706017039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970706017039A), Jul 6, 1997: Tmpson NAVION*, Cross City, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Struck tree trying land in pasture. Fuel exhaustion. Indicated. Pilot stated error in fuel judgement. (-23) no narrative. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.