# NTSB ERA11CA449: North American AT-6D, N7435U, Canon, GA, August 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2011, 16:38 local (20:38 UTC) - Place: Canon, GA - Coordinates: 34.337501, -83.125 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3375&lon=-83.1250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81471 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA449 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81471/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81471 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA449 ## 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: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=6400416), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [North American AT-6D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=6400416), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel tanks were full prior to departing on the 2 1/2 hour cross-country flight. About 20 miles north of the destination, the pilot observed a low fuel caution. He requested from air traffic control a diversion to the nearest airport, which was about 20 miles east of the airplane's position; about 2 miles from the airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot selected a field and conducted a forced landing. The airplane landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine firewall. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane's fuel tanks were empty and there was no evidence of fuel spillage. The pilot said that he had flown this route before and had used the same power settings for this flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel tanks were full prior to departing on the 2.5-hour cross-country flight. Approximately 20 miles north of the destination airport, the pilot observed a low fuel caution. He elected to divert to an airport approximately 20 miles east of the airplane's position, and approximately 2 miles from the diversion airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot selected a field and conducted a forced landing. The airplane landed hard resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine firewall. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane's fuel tanks were void of fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7435U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7435U-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 8814666, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6D - Registry model: [North American AT-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6d) (registry code 6400416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8814666 - Airframe hours: 5273 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George and Sheila Palmer - Registered owner: George and Sheila Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, August 12, 2011 - Departed: BMG, Bloomington, IN - Destination: AHN, Athens, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: NA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 1,780 total, 103 in this make and model, 1,730 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CEU, 23 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 20110813022189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110813022189A), Aug 13, 2011: North American AT-6D, Canon, GA, Substantial damage. At approximately 1600, on 08/13/2011, [privacy data omitted] was enroute to athens, GA (kahn) for a fueling stop in a 1943, AT-6A, N7435U. He requested a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81471. 477 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354006&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.