# NTSB CHI02LA195: Meyers OTW-145, N34321, Waupun, WI, July 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2002, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Waupun, WI - Coordinates: 43.549999, -88.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5500&lon=-88.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA -- Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55325/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55325 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA195 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the fuel pump failure. Contributing to the accident was the wheat field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - engine assembly - failure,total (cause) - fuel system,pump - failure,total (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis During cruise flight, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. Manually actuating the fuel pump restored power for approximately 30 seconds. Unable to regain engine power, the pilot executed a forced landing into a wheat field. During the landing rollout the airplane nosed over. A post-accident examination revealed fuel leaking from the fuel pump air vent, as well as a hole in the fuel pump diaphragm. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2002, at 1330 central daylight time, a Meyer OTW-145, N34321, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed in a wheat field approximately 5 miles south-southwest of Waupun, Wisconsin, following a total loss of engine power. The flight, consisting of a total of 6 OTW aircraft, originated at 1200 cdt from the Poplar Grove Airport (C77), Poplar Grove, Illinois, and was destined for the Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight en route to OSH, the engine suffered a complete loss of power. The pilot stated that manually actuating the fuel pump restored power for approximately 30 seconds. Unable to regain engine power, the pilot executed a forced landing into a wheat field. However, during the landing the airplane nosed over and came to a rest inverted. A post-accident investigation revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks. During the inspection, additional fuel introduced into the fuel tanks was noted leaking from the engine-driven fuel pump air vent. Examination of the fuel pump revealed a hole in the diaphragm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34321](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34321), registered now, S/N 65 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Meyers Aircraft Co. OTW-145 - Registry model: [Meyers OTW-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-otw-160) (registry code 5650208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 65 - Airframe hours: 20 - Engines: Kinner R5 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: C77, Belvidere, IL - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 3, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 424 total, 21 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: UNU, 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 20020720038059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020720038059A), Jul 20, 2002: Meyers OTW145, Dodge County, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N34321, piloted by dennis callaway, certificate #364323379, a 1942, Meyers otw, serial #65, powered by a kinner 160 radial engine was in route… ## Other investigations on N34321 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX72FUJ66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FUJ66), Jan 15, 1972: Meyers OTW145 (N34321), Wenden, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55325. 404 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 361 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Letter From Pilot To FAA Regarding Accident (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20From%20Pilot%20To%20FAA%20Regarding%20Accident-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.