# NTSB ERA10CA093: Rockwell International 114, N5872N, Birmingham, AL, December 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 8, 2009, 21:00 local (Dec 9, 2009, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Birmingham, AL - Coordinates: 33.563888, -86.75222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5639&lon=-86.7522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75150/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75150 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA093 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was conducting an instrument-flight-rules flight with an estimated flight time of 1 hour and 33 minutes. He encountered unanticipated headwinds along the route of flight, and as he neared his destination airport he learned that weather conditions had deteriorated below minimums. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport, but was unable to complete the approach due to a windshear encounter. He then diverted to a third airport and reported that he was concerned about the airplane's available fuel. The pilot again aborted his first approach due to a windshear encounter and during a subsequent approach the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field prior to the runway. The airplane's nose and left main landing gears collapsed upon contact with a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was conducting an instrument-flight-rules flight with an estimated flight time of 1 hour and 33 minutes. He encountered unanticipated headwinds along the route of flight, and as he neared his destination airport he learned that weather conditions had deteriorated below minimums. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport, but was unable to complete the approach due to a windshear encounter. He then diverted to a third airport and reported that he was concerned about the airplane's available fuel. The pilot again aborted his first approach due to a windshear encounter and during a subsequent approach the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field prior to the runway. The airplane's nose and left main landing gears collapsed upon contact with a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5872N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5872N), registered now, S/N 14417, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114 - Registry model: [Rockwell International 114](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-114) (registry code 7630314) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14417 - Airframe hours: 3902 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Staples Investment Group - Registered owner: Staples Investment Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2009 - Departed: D73, Monroe, GA - Destination: EET, Alabaster, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BHM, Birmingham International, runway 18, 7,100 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 492 total, 437 in this make and model, 418 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 23 knots, gusting 34 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 2 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 20091208051999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091208051999A), Dec 8, 2009: Rockwell In 114, Birmingham, AL, Substantial damage. At 2018 CST on December 08, 2009, a small plane crashed at the Birmingham international airport (bhm). The aircraft was identified as an AC-11, registration… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75150. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 - View of airplane as it came to rest (item 3, .PDF, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20-%20View%20of%20airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest-Master.PDF 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.