# NTSB CHI07CA057: Barron Thorp T18, N54DT, Edinburg, OH, January 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 9, 2007, 11:08 local (16:08 UTC) - Place: Edinburg, OH - Coordinates: 41.098609, -81.191108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0986&lon=-81.1911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65217/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight decision not to refuel prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor to the accident was the tree line that the airplane impacted during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during approach. The pilot stated that the airplane lost engine power due to "a depletion of fuel." The pilot attempted to land in a plowed field but reported not having sufficient altitude to clear trees at the field's edge. The pilot stated that he "stalled the airplane into the top of the trees." The pilot reported the airplane then fell approximately forty feet to the ground in a nose down attitude. Inspection of airplane revealed that the fuel system did not contain any remaining usable fuel. The fuel system was intact and no fuel smell was noted at the accident site. The pilot reported that the accident flight was three hours and eight minutes in duration. The pilot stated that the airplane had 29 gallons of fuel on board at departure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during approach. The pilot stated that the airplane lost engine power due to "a depletion of fuel." The pilot attempted to land in a plowed field but reported not having sufficient altitude to clear trees at the field's edge. The pilot stated that he "stalled the airplane into the top of the trees." The pilot reported the airplane then fell approximately forty feet to the ground in a nose down attitude. Inspection of airplane revealed that the fuel system did not contain any remaining usable fuel. The fuel system was intact and no fuel smell was noted at the accident site. The pilot reported that the accident flight was three hours and eight minutes in duration. The pilot stated that the airplane had 29 gallons of fuel on board at departure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54DT-2008-10-14), registration cancelled 2008-10-14, S/N 2, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Barron Thorp T18 - Registry model: [Barron THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/barron-thorp-t-18) (registry code 8951078) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SOP, Southern Pines, NC - Destination: 29G, Ravenna, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 29G, Portage County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 3,354 total, 18 in this make and model, 3,202 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 11 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 20 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 20070109002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070109002309A), Jan 9, 2007: Amtr THORPT18, Edinburg, OH, Destroyed. (-23) At approximately 0806 N54DT departed from moore county airport (SOP) southern pines, north carolina for portage county airport (29G) ravenna, Ohio. On… 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.