- Date
- October 4, 2005, 18:08 local (23:08 UTC)
- Place
- McGregor, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N32476Culver LCA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20051004029389A
- Case key
- 62610
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 540-hour private pilot reported that approximately 5 to 10 miles short of his destination airport, while still in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, the engine lost power without warnings. The pilot made a forced landing to a field with the main landing gear still retracted. During the landing, the left wing came into contact with a fence post and severed the wing. The vintage airplane was not equipped with fuel gauges and the pilot reported that he did not visually inspect the fuel tanks before takeoff and estimated that he had enough fuel to complete a cross-country flight to a nearby airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the main fuel tank was empty.
Factual narrative
This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for this case. For further information, please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquiries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N32476
- Reported as
- Culver LCA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 208
- Engine
- Continental C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Keith Richbourg
- Registered owner
- Keith Richbourg
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2005 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- T94 · San Antonio, TX
- Destination
- Waco, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 540 total · 40 in this make and model · 515 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- PWG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.