# NTSB CEN16LA090: Bellanca 17-30A, N194DW, Overbrook, OK, January 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2016, 17:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Overbrook, OK - Coordinates: 34.078887, -97.109169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0789&lon=-97.1092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his subsequent decision to circle to the north end of the airport due to a light tailwind condition instead of making a downwind landing. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that he did not visually check the fuel level in the tanks before the personal cross-country flight but that he estimated that there was sufficient fuel on board for a 1-hour flight; the flight was expected to take 30 minutes. The pilot stated that, about 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, the engine started to surge, and it then experienced a total loss of power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He then attempted to circle to the north end of a nearby airport so he could land to the south instead of landing to the north with a light tailwind. While on final approach, the airplane contacted trees and terrain about 300 ft north of the runway end. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel system was intact. No fuel was found in the left wing tank, and 1/2 gallon of fuel was found in the right wing tank. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2016, about 1735 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N194DW, collided with trees and terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power in Overbrook, Oklahoma. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings and firewall. The airplane was registered to Physics Behind Fitness LLC and was being operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Aero Country Airport (T31), McKinney, Texas, about 1715. The airplane had just come out of maintenance and the pilot stated he planned to fly to the Lake Murray area then to the Sherman Municipal Airport for fuel. He estimated he would be airborne about 30 minutes and had about 1 hour of fuel on board. He stated he did not visually check the fuel level in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported that upon reaching the south end of Lake Murray, the engine began to surge, and continued to do so for about 45 seconds. He turned toward the Lake Murray State Park Airport (1F2) which was north of his position and the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. He turned on the fuel boost pump and switched fuel tanks but was not able to regain engine power. The pilot stated he thought he had enough altitude to fly to the north end of the airport and land into the wind on runway 14. An airport 5 miles north of the accident site reported wind at 1735 was from 110 degrees at 3 knots. The pilot reported the local wind was from 160 degrees at 7 knots. While on final approach, the airplane contacted trees and terrain about 300 feet north of the end of runway 14. The pilot was able to exit the airplane and called 911 for assistance. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site reported the airplane's fuel system appeared to be intact and no fuel was observed in the fuel tanks. The owner of the company that recovered the airplane from the accident site reported the wing tanks and fuel system were intact. He stated there was ½ gallon of fuel in the right wing tank and zero fuel in the left wing tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N194DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N194DW-2020-01-03), registration cancelled 2020-01-03, S/N 94-301021, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 94-301021 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 565 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2016, 0 hours before - Departed: T31, McKinney, TX - Destination: T31, McKinney, TX - Airport: 1F1, Lake Murray State Park - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 335 total, 45 in this make and model, 280 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: 1F0, 5 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 20160117000589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160117000589A), Jan 17, 2016: Bellanca 17-30A, Overbrook, OK, Substantial damage. Engine surged then stalled over lake Murray pilot turned toward airport lowered gear and flaps. Aircraft couldn't maintain altitude and struck trees with… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92597. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Oklahoma Highway Patrol Report (item 3, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Oklahoma%20Highway%20Patrol%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.