# NTSB ERA13CA435: Aeronca 65 CA, N33879, Thomaston, GA, September 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 30, 2013, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Thomaston, GA - Coordinates: 32.958332, -84.273612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9583&lon=-84.2736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88166/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88166 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA435 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight monitoring of the fuel level which resulted in a total 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 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled the day prior to the accident and flown 246 miles. Prior to the accident flight, which was 213 miles, the pilot added approximately 2 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tanks, which provided about 13 total gallons of fuel on board for the flight. While enroute to the intended destination the pilot made an unexpected landing to accommodate the needs of a passenger and was on the ground for about 8 minutes. The remaining portion of the flight was uneventful until approximately 12 miles from the destination airport when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road; however, the airplane impacted tree tops and came to rest in a nose down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. According to a report from the Sheriff's Department, the passenger stated "they ran out of fuel." Postaccident examination revealed about one quart of fuel remained in the fuel system and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled the day prior to the accident and flown 246 miles. Prior to the accident flight, which was 213 miles, the pilot added approximately 2 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tanks, which provided about 13 total gallons of fuel on board for the flight. While enroute to the intended destination the pilot made an unexpected landing to accommodate the needs of a passenger and was on the ground for about 8 minutes. The remaining portion of the flight was uneventful until approximately 12 miles from the destination airport when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road; however, the airplane impacted tree tops and came to rest in a nose down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. According to a report from the Sheriff's Department, the passenger stated "they ran out of fuel." Postaccident examination revealed about one quart of fuel remained in the fuel system and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33879](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33879-2024-01-13), registration cancelled 2024-01-13, S/N C14181 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 65 CA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 65-CA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-ca) (registry code 0190922) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C14181 - Year built: 1941 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GA14, Albany, GA - Destination: OPN, Thomaston, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2013; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 31,500 total, 58 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KOPN ## 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 20130930019719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130930019719A), Sep 30, 2013: Aeronca 65-CA, Thomaston, GA, Destroyed. On October 22, 2013 inspector [privacy data omitted] met with the pilot [privacy data omitted] at the atlanta FSDO to go over the events leading up to the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88166. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Calculation on Fuel Planning (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Calculation%20on%20Fuel%20Planning-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Upson County Sheriff's Office Report (item 5, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Upson%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Thomaston GA Weather (item 6, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Thomaston%20GA%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.