# NTSB ERA11LA359: Navion Navion B, N75394, Red Oak, NC, June 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2011, 12:19 local (16:19 UTC) - Place: Red Oak, NC - Coordinates: 36.055557, -77.921669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0556&lon=-77.9217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80875/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80875 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA359 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent movement of the fuel tank selector handle to the off position, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Navion NAVION B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6150112), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped momentarily, recovered, and lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a wooded area and the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction. There was adequate fuel on board for the flight. The floor-mounted tank selector handle was found near the off position. It is likely that the pilot inadvertently moved the tank selector handle to the off position prior to the loss of engine power. The pilot had no recollection of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2011, about 1219 eastern daylight time, a Navion B, N75394, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power and collision with trees and terrain near Red Oak, North Carolina. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Double S Airport (19NC), Nashville, North Carolina about 1218 and was destined for Wilson Industrial Air Center Airport (W03), Wilson, North Carolina. The pilot reported no recollection of the event. The pilot's son reported the following. He was at the airstrip and watched his father perform the preflight inspection. During the engine run-up, the "engine sounded good and strong." The pilot prepared for a takeoff to the south. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the engine stopped suddenly. A few seconds later, the engine started again and sounded "smooth and strong" like it had previously. The engine quit again a few seconds later and the airplane descended into the trees. The pilot's son found the wreckage in a wooded area and called 911. He reported that, other than opening the canopy, he did not touch anything in the cockpit, nor did he see anyone else touch anything in the cockpit. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The left and right wings were structurally damaged from the collision with trees. The fuselage was buckled. The airplane came to rest in a 15- to 20-degree nose down attitude. A dipstick was placed in the main fuel tank and the depth of the fuel was about 6 inches. The floor-mounted fuel tank selector handle was found "just out of off position." The fuel selector handle moved freely and the tank detents were correctly aligned. The electric fuel pump was found in the "on" position and produced 4 to 5 psi of pressure when tested. The fuel drain was opened and the fuel appeared "clear and uncontaminated." The fuel tank cap seals were in good condition. Aileron continuity was established; rudder and elevator continuity could not be established due to impact damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75394](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75394-2017-10-30), registration cancelled 2017-10-30, S/N 2054B, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION B - Registry model: [Navion NAVION B](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-b) (registry code 6150112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-435C&D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-435c-d-series) (registry code 41521, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2054B - Airframe hours: 2652 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-435C2 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shanks Von R - Registered owner: Shanks Von R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 2011, 1 hours before - Departed: 19NC, Nashville, NC - Destination: W03, Wilson, NC - Airport: 19NC, Double S Airport, runway 17, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 932 in this make and model, 956 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: RWI, 12 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 20110623015449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110623015449A), Jun 23, 2011: Navion NAVION B, Red Oak, NC, Destroyed. The aircraft took off from the private grass strip (19NC) headed south when the engine quit, the aircraft banked out to the southeast in an apparent attempt to… ## Other investigations on N75394 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA65F0004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65F0004), Mar 7, 1965: Navion B (N75394), Englewood, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80875. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement - Shanks (item 3, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Shanks-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Fuel Selector Handle (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Fuel%20Selector%20Handle%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Fuel Selector Handle (FAA Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Fuel%20Selector%20Handle%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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.