# NTSB FTW00LA025: Streifthau Baby Great Lakes, N415, Iowa Park, TX, November 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 1999, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Iowa Park, TX - Coordinates: 33.949962, -98.679618 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9500&lon=-98.6796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47731/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA025 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis During a go-around, the airplane's engine lost power as a result of fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane, and the previous owner had informed him that the airplane required fuel before its next flight. The pilot was performing high-speed taxi tests and simulated takeoffs on a taxiway when the airplane began to veer toward the edge of the taxiway. The pilot elected to take off and fly one traffic pattern. While on approach to the runway, he realized the airplane's airspeed was high, and he initiated a go-around. As the airplane reached a nose-up attitude, the engine 'sputtered' and lost total power. A forced landing was executed and the airplane impacted the ground. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that there was 'one cup of fuel in the fuselage mounted fuel tank.' ## Factual narrative On November 3, 1999, at 0730 central standard time, a Streifthau Baby Great Lakes experimental amateur-built airplane, N415, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near the Wichita Valley Airport, Iowa Park, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot, who sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Wichita Valley Airport at 0720. The pilot reported during a telephone interview that he had recently purchased the airplane, and the previous owner had informed him that the airplane required fuel before its next flight. He reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that he was performing high-speed taxi tests and simulated takeoffs, when the airplane started to veer toward the edge of the taxiway. He elected to take off and fly one traffic pattern. He realized during the approach to land that the airplane's airspeed was too fast, and he initiated a go-around. The pilot pitched the airplane nose up and applied full power, simultaneously the engine "began to sputter" and subsequently, lost total power. The airplane contacted the ground and came to rest upright, 0.5 miles northeast of the departure end of runway 22. The pilot reported that he did not check the quantity of fuel prior to the flight. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, the engine firewall was displaced and the engine mounts were damaged. The wings, including the wing spars, were structurally damaged. He estimated that there was "one cup of fuel in the fuselage mounted fuel tank." In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), in the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot stated the following: Fuel aircraft before taxi testing. Note: Extensive personal injury prevented by the use of a 4-point harness and full face motorcycle helmet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N415](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N415), registered now, S/N 6814K130B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Streifthau BABY GREAT LAKES (BABY GREAT) - Registry model: [Streifthau BABY GREAT LAKES](https://openairdocs.org/model/streifthau-baby-great-lakes) (registry code 3910115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6814K130B - Airframe hours: 370 - Engines: Continental C-85F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Cole - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1999, 1 hours before - Departed: F14 - Airport: F14, Wichita Valley, runway 22, 3,050 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 285 total, 215 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPS, 5 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 19991103044829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991103044829A), Nov 3, 1999: Wichita Falls, TX, No damage. (-23) On November 3, 1999 at 0745 CST, a streifthau/baby great lakes, N415, owned by [privacy data omitted] crashed his a/c while landing at Wichita Valley… 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.