# NTSB ERA11CA057: Aeronca O58B, N46014, Livingston, NY, November 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 12, 2010, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Livingston, NY - Coordinates: 42.143054, -73.750274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1431&lon=-73.7503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77791 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77791/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77791 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0191006), [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-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Aeronca 0-58B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0191006), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the airplane's 15-gallon fuel tank was about half-full when he departed on a local flight. At the conclusion of the one-hour flight, while on approach to the airport, the airplane’s engine stopped producing power. He set up for a forced landing to a southerly-oriented runway, and about 200 feet above the ground, the engine re-started and the aircraft climbed. The engine ran for several seconds and stopped again. He then attempted to circle and land on the northerly-oriented runway. As he approached the runway, he pulled back on the control yoke to bleed off some airspeed, but there was no elevator control effectiveness as the airplane was close to a stall. The airplane impacted the ground, the landing gear collapsed, and the engine firewall sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tank was void of fuel, and no fuel drained from the wing fuel sump when tested. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the airplane's 15-gallon fuel tank was about half-full when he departed on a local flight. At the conclusion of the one-hour flight, while on approach to the airport, the airplane’s engine stopped producing power. The pilot set up for a forced landing to a southerly-oriented runway, and about 200 feet above the ground, the engine started and the aircraft climbed. The engine ran for several seconds and stopped again. The pilot then attempted to circle and land on the northerly-oriented runway. As he approached the runway, the pilot pulled back on the stick but there was no elevator control effectiveness. The airplane impacted the ground, the landing gear collapsed, and the engine firewall sustained substantial damage. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tank was void of fuel, and no fuel drained from the wing fuel sump when tested. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46014](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46014), registered now, S/N 058B12153, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA O58B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 0-58B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-0-58b) (registry code 0191006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 058B12153 - Airframe hours: 2187 - Engines: Continental A75-8F 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric Paul Beebe - Registered owner: Eric Paul Beebe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2010 - Departed: NY1, Ghent, NY - Destination: 1A1, Livingston, NY - Airport: 1A1, Green Acres Airport, runway 03, 2,275 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 382 total, 36 in this make and model, 382 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: PSF, 26 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 20101112051799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101112051799A), Nov 12, 2010: Aeronca 0-58B, Livingston, NY, Substantial damage. Upon arrival of the accident scene, the aircraft was observed in the upright position, with the wings attached and fuselage mostly intact. The main landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77791. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Photo of airplane as it came to rest (Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-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.