# NTSB CHI99LA186: North American Navion L-17A, N109F, Osceola, WI, June 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1999, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Osceola, WI - Coordinates: 45.310913, -92.690162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3109&lon=-92.6902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46574/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA186 ## Probable cause the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system in that he had the fuel selector positioned to a tank which did not contain sufficient fuel for the flight. Factors associated with the accident were the crop and the ditch which the airplane encountered 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(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel boost pump selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis A loss of engine power was experienced approximately 30 minutes after takeoff. The airplane touched down in a corn field and contacted a ditch prior to coming to a stop about 400 feet short of the approach end of a runway. The pilot stated that the engine 'coughed' and he turned on the fuel boost pumps. The engine ran briefly prior to totally losing power. The pilot switched to the auxiliary fuel tank, but was unable to get the engine started. Post accident inspection revealed the tip and main tanks were empty, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full. The landing gear and flaps were extended during the forced landing descent. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1999, at 1600 central daylight time (cdt), a North American Navion L-17A, N109F, operated by a private pilot, collided with the terrain after undershooting the runway during a forced landing in Osceola, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Anoka, Minnesota, at 1530 cdt, and was destined for Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The pilot reported that during the aircraft preflight he observed that the main fuel tank was half full and the auxiliary tank was full. He reported that he departed Anoka County and after 35 minutes of flight time the engine "coughed" and he immediately turned toward the airport in Osceola. He reported he was six to eight miles away from the airport at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level and he planned to land on runway 28. The pilot reported he turned on the fuel boost pumps and the engine started briefly twice. He switched to the auxiliary fuel tank and was unable to get the engine started. The pilot reported, "... I realized that we were not going to make it to the runway. The successful forced landing through a corn field was interrupted by a shallow ditch that brought the aircraft to a stop approximately 400 feet short of runway 28." A post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that both the tip and main fuel tanks were empty, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full of fuel. The inspector reported the airplane initially impacted the terrain approximately 1,000 feet short of the approach end of the runway and that the landing gear and flaps were extended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N109F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N109F), registered now, S/N NAV-4-839, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American NAVION L-17A (NAVION L-1) - Registry model: [North American NAVION L-17A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion-l-17a) (registry code 6150134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-839 - Airframe hours: 2325 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BACB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thure H. Erickson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: ANE, ANOKA, MN - Destination: RPD, RICE LAKE, WI - Airport: OEO, Simenstad Municipal, runway 28 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,226 total, 388 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OEO ## 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 19990616007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990616007119A), Jun 16, 1999: Navion L17A, Osceola, WI, Substantial damage. Acft engine quit, and the acft landed several hundred feet short of the rw y at Osceola. (.19) on June 16, 1999, at 1730 central daylight time (CDT), a north… 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.