# NTSB CHI99LA340: Navion A, N4527K, Utica, NE, September 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1999, 17:36 local (22:36 UTC) - Place: Utica, NE - Coordinates: 40.889068, -97.33921 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8891&lon=-97.3392&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 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47346/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA340 ## Probable cause the failure of the fuel pump and the misjudged touchdown point by the pilot. A factor was the high vegetation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,pump - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Undershoot, emergency landing - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said, '... at 4,500 feet, the engine died suddenly and completely. I immediately turned on [the] boost pump, which did no good. I then, turned back 180 degrees and headed for NE23 (Utica, NE) which we had just passed. I notified Lincoln App [approach] of our problem and that re-start procedures didn't work.' The pilot then said, 'I thought I was set up to touch down halfway down the runway, let [the] gear down, got three lights, and then pumped down the rest of the flaps.' The pilot said that he touched down approximately 150 feet from the end of the runway and on rollout the landing gear collapsed due to the presence of '...five feet tall fireweeds.' During a post accident examination of the airplane, the engine driven fuel pump drive pin was found to be sheared. No other preexisting anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft or it's systems ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1999, at 1736 central daylight time, a Navion model A, N4527K, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, to runway 35 (3,000 feet by 50 feet, dry/concrete), at the Flying V Airport, Utica, Nebraska, following an engine failure during cruise flight. The aircraft impacted terrain short of the approach end of the runway. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his one passenger. The flight originated from the Lincoln Municipal Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska, at 1710 and was en route to the Kearney Airport, Kearney, Nebraska. In a written statement, the pilot said, "... at 4,500 feet, the engine died suddenly and completely. I immediately turned on [the] boost pump, which did no good. I then, turned back 180 degrees and headed for NE23 (Utica, NE) which we had just passed. I notified Lincoln App [approach] of our problem and that re-start procedures didn't work." The pilot then said, "I thought I was set up to touch down halfway down the runway, let [the] gear down, got three lights, and then pumped down the rest of the flaps." The pilot said that he touched down approximately 150 feet from the end of the runway and on rollout the landing gear collapsed due to the presence of "...five feet tall fireweeds." During a post accident examination of the airplane, the engine driven fuel pump drive pin was found to be sheared. No other preexisting anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft or its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4527K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4527K-2013-11-07), registration cancelled 2013-11-07, S/N NAV-4-1527, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Navion A - Registry model: [Navion NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-a) (registry code 6150104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-1527 - Airframe hours: 2638 - Engines: Continental E-225-A 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Whitesel Management Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1999, 35 hours before - Departed: LNK, LINCOLN, NE - Destination: EAR, KEARNEY, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 352 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 27 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 19990909044999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990909044999A), Sep 9, 1999: Tmpson NAVIONA, Utica, NE, No damage. (-23) On September 9, 1999, at approx. 1735 CDT, a navion, N4527K, was west bound, at 2500 AGL, 2 miles south of the flying v airport, Utica, Nebraska. The… ## Other investigations on N4527K (2) 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 IAD78DLJ19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78DLJ19), Aug 4, 1978: Ryan Navion (N4527K), Wilmington, NC, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW69F0468](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0468), Apr 11, 1969: Navion A (N4527K), Hot Springs, AR, substantial damage 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.