- Date
- September 17, 2009, 19:15 local (Sep 18, 2009, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Mt. Vernon, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4207ZLinke KR-2
- Defining event
- Approach: Fuel exhaustion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 74758
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 inadequate preflight planning/preparation and fuel management by the pilot which led to fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during approach. Contributing to the accident was the inoperative fuel indicator.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was en route to the destination airport when the airplane's fuel indicating rod became stuck in the full position, which it had done on previous occasions. The pilot determined, based upon his calculations, that he would have enough fuel to complete the flight. During approach to the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot executed a forced landing on a bean field. During the landing, the airplane hit trees and impacted the field resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot sustained minor injuries. There was no usable fuel aboard the airplane. The pilot stated that he miscalculated the fuel consumption during the flight and failed to make a precautionary landing when the fuel indicating rod became stuck.
Factual narrative
The pilot was en route to the destination airport when the airplane's fuel indicating rod became stuck in the full position, which it had done on previous occasions. The pilot determined, based upon his calculations, that he would have enough fuel to complete the flight. During approach to the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot executed a forced landing on a bean field. During the landing, the airplane hit trees and impacted the field resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot sustained minor injuries. There was no usable fuel aboard the airplane. The pilot stated that he miscalculated the fuel consumption during the flight and failed to make a precautionary landing when the fuel indicating rod became stuck.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4207Z
- Reported as
- Linke KR-2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0664
- Airframe hours
- 1,065
- Engine
- Volkswagoen Conversion, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 2, 2008
- Departed
- EMP · Emporia, KS
- Destination
- MVN · Mt. Vernon, IL
- Airport
- MVN · Mount Vernon Airport, runway 05, 6,496 × 150 ft
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
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 26, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 920 total · 801 in this make and model · 870 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 633 KB in all.