- Date
- August 24, 2008, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Keller, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7653BBellanca 14-19-2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080824844619A
- Case key
- 68797
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 inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane which resulted in an attempted takeoff without fuel present in the selected fuel tank.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The private pilot aborted the takeoff, locked up the brakes, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and passenger were able to egress unassisted. After the accident, the pilot checked the selected left fuel tank, and found the tank to be empty. The fuel tanks had been previously filled, the airplane was flown seven days prior, and the pilot expected the left tank to be full. The pilot reported that the fuel must have been stolen prior to his flight. In addition, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had visually confirmed that fuel was present in the left tank.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The private pilot aborted the takeoff, locked up the brakes, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and passenger were able to egress unassisted. After the accident, the pilot checked the selected left fuel tank, and found the tank to be empty. The fuel tanks had been previously filled, the airplane was flown seven days prior, and the pilot expected the left tank to be full. The pilot reported that the fuel must have been stolen prior to his flight. In addition, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevent if he had visually confirmed that fuel was present in the left tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7653B
- Reported as
- Bellanca 14-19-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4004
- Airframe hours
- 3,258.8
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2008
- Departed
- 7TX4 · Keller, TX
- Destination
- DUC · Duncan, OK
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
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 534 total · 124 in this make and model · 534 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.