# NTSB CHI03LA249: North American AT-6D, N9272K, Brookings, SD, August 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2003, 19:50 local (Aug 7, 2003, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Brookings, SD - Coordinates: 44.304721, -96.816947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3047&lon=-96.8169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57654/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA249 ## Probable cause The inadequate fuel supply for the flight, and the inadequate preflight by the pilot resulting in exhaustion of the fuel supply and subsequent loss of engine power. The tree was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A North American AT-6D sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he had just taken off and was on a downwind for a pass at the field when he lost fuel pressure and engine power. He said that the engine "caught" a couple of times and then quit. He said that he selected a hay field to execute a forced landing to and decided to land wheels up. He stated that he hit a tree in the field during the landing attempt. According to a Sheriff’s report, the pilot reported that he was running out of fuel and was looking for a place to land. As he was traveling north he clipped a tree, struck the ground, and then slid to a stop. The pilot said that he did not know how much fuel was on-board the airplane. There was no fuel present in the gas tank after the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2003, about 1950 central daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N9272K, sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Brookings, South Dakota. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Madison, South Dakota. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had just taken off from the Brookings Municipal Airport and was on downwind for a pass at the field when he lost fuel pressure and engine power. He said that the engine "caught" a couple of times and then quit. He said that he selected a hay field to execute a forced landing to and decided to land wheels up. He stated that he hit a tree in the field during the landing attempt. The pilot said that he did not know how much fuel was on-board the airplane. According to the Brookings County Sheriff's Department incident report, the pilot reported that he was running out of fuel and was looking for a place to land. As he was traveling north he clipped a tree, struck the ground, and then slid to a stop. The sheriff's department was advised by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take pictures of the scene and measure the fuel in the tank. There was no fuel in the tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9272K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9272K), registered now, S/N 88-15693, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American AT-6D - Registry model: [North American AT-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6d) (registry code 6400416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-15693 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph E Habeger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BKX, Brookings, SD - Destination: MDS, Madison, SD - Airport: BKX, Brookings Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BKX, 3 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 20030806020049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806020049A), Aug 6, 2003: Namer AT6D, Brookings, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) On 6 August, 2003, N9272K, a north American AT6D made a forced landing 3 miles south of brooking, SD. The pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries… 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.