CEN10LA056

NTSB accident investigation · Navion Navion G · Montrose, CO · November 18, 2009

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 18, 2009, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Montrose, CO
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Emergency descent
Aircraft
N2493TNavion Navion G
Defining event
Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 23, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20091118051419A
Case key
75075

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

Findings · 2

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.

Planning/preparation: fuel planningPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotNavion NAVION G: 1 caseAll aircraft: 719 casesProbable cause
Fluids: fuelAircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid levelNavion NAVION G: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,695 casesProbable cause

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

Prior to departure, the pilot performed a visual inspection and estimated the airplane contained 12-14 gallons of fuel. Approximately 35 minutes after takeoff and while on final approach to land, the engine lost complete power. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot elected to land on a residential street. Shortly before touchdown, the airplane impacted a tree and subsequently the street. The airplane came to rest in an upright position approximately 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the airplane's non-compromised fuel tanks contained approximately one and a half quarts of aviation fuel. No other pre impact anomalies were noted that would have prevented the engine from producing power.

Factual narrative

On November 18, 2009, about 1130 mountain standard time, a Navion G airplane, N2493T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power while on final approach to the Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), Montrose, Colorado. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from MTJ around 1040. The pilot reported that prior to departure he performed a visual inspection and estimated the airplane contained 12-14 gallons of fuel. Approximately 35 minutes after takeoff and while on final approach to land, the engine lost complete power. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot elected to land on a residential street. Shortly before touchdown, the airplane impacted a tree and subsequently the street. The airplane came to rest in an upright position approximately 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing sustained structural damage. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the airplane's non-compromised fuel tanks contained approximately one and a half quarts of a blue liquid consistent with 100LL aviation fuel. No other pre impact anomalies were noted that would have prevented the engine from producing power.

Aircraft

Registration
N2493T
Reported as
Navion Navion G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
NAV-4-2493
Airframe hours
1,924
Engine
Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Borgo Douglas A
Registered owner
Borgo Douglas A
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 2, 2009
Departed
MTJ · Montrose, CO
Destination
MTJ · Montrose, CO

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
41
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 30, 2009
Seat
Left
Flight hours
672 total · 577 in this make and model · 629 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
37 °F, dew point 27 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
MTJ, 2 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.5 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.