# NTSB CEN13LA157: North American-Medore SNJ-4, N2269U, Garden City, TX, February 8, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2013, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Garden City, TX - Coordinates: 31.587499, -101.509162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5875&lon=-101.5092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 86191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA157 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [North American-Medore SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=6400413), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [North American-Medore SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=6400413), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [North American-Medore SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=6400413), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American-Medore SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400413), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks during cruise flight and subsequently lost engine power and fuel pressure. The pilot attempted to restore fuel pressure by using the wobble pump and switching fuel tanks; however, he was not successful. The airplane was substantially damaged during the resultant forced landing. During the recovery of the airplane, 1.5 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank and 12.5 gallons of fuel were recovered from the left fuel tank. An examination of the engine, wobble pump, engine driven fuel pump, and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot moved the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, which had little fuel, starved the engine of fuel, and was unable to restart the engine before the forced landing. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2013, approximately 1245 central standard time, a North American Medore SNJ-4, N2269U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing south of Garden City, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight departed Boerne, Texas, at 1115 and was en route to Midland, Texas. According to the pilot, at 8,500 feet, during cruise flight, he switched fuel tanks and subsequently lost engine power and fuel pressure. The pilot attempted to restore fuel pressure by using the wobble pump and switching fuel tanks; however, he was not successful. During the forced landing the right main landing gear tire exited the road and the airplane continued through a fence and into mesquite brush. The left wing spar was bent. During the recovery of the airplane 1.5 gallons of fuel was recovered from the right fuel tank and 12.5 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. Neither fuel tank exhibited damage or fuel leaks during the recovery. An examination of the engine, wobble pump, engine driven fuel pump, and fuel system revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2269U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2269U), registered now, S/N 88-12850 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN-MEDORE SNJ-4 - Registry model: [North American-Medore SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-medore-snj-4) (registry code 6400413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1340-an-1) (registry code 51612, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-12850 - Airframe hours: 4657 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: BP Residential LLC - Registered owner: BP Residential LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2012 - Departed: 5C1, Boerne, TX - Destination: MDD, Midland, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 1,042 total, 20 in this make and model, 961 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KMDD ## 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 20130208002069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130208002069A), Feb 8, 2013: North American-Medore SNJ-4, Garden City, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was in-route from bernie stage field in san antonio returning the SNJ-4 to midland airpark (mdd) after repairs were made to the fuel system. Cruising at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86191. 1.5 MB in all. - CEN13LA157 - Engine and Fuel System Examination (item 1, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CEN13LA157%20-%20Engine%20and%20Fuel%20System%20Examination-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.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.