# NTSB CEN10LA056: Navion Navion G, N2493T, Montrose, CO, November 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 18, 2009, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Montrose, CO - Coordinates: 38.509723, -107.894165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5097&lon=-107.8942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75075/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75075 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA056 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=6150120), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=6150120), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Navion NAVION G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6150120), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Navion NAVION G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=6150120), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Navion NAVION G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=6150120), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2493T-2010-10-20), registration cancelled 2010-10-20, S/N NAV-4-2493, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION G - Registry model: [Navion NAVION G](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-g) (registry code 6150120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-2493 - Airframe hours: 1924 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; 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 ## 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 20091118051419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091118051419A), Nov 18, 2009: Navion NAVION G, Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. On final approach the engine quit running so the pilot landed on a residendial road. He hit a tree with the left wing while in the air. The aircraft then… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75075. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Digital Photo 1, Front View (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%201,%20Front%20View-Master.PDF 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.