- Date
- December 2, 2003, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N815MCessna 310-H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20031202032769A
- Case key
- 58412
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel by which he failed to position the fuel selector on the appropriate fuel tanks resulting in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 1,800-hour pilot stated that he turned final to Runway 17 and was at an altitude of 2,500 MSL, when the left engine lost power. Approximately ten seconds later, the right engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with the landing gear up, approximately two miles north of his destination. The main fuel tanks were visually inspected and found to be one-third to one-half full of fuel. The auxiliary tanks were found to be empty. The fuel selector valves were in the auxiliary position for both engines. The pilot reported that he was distracted by weather and communications with Oklahoma City Approach Control, and forgot to switch tanks.
Factual narrative
On December 2, 2003, approximately 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 310-H twin-engine airplane, N815M, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power to both engines while on final approach to Sundance Airpark (HSD), near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Mount Vernon Airport (MVN), near Mount Vernon, Illinois, at 1015.
The 1,800-hour pilot reported to a FAA inspector that he departed Springfield, Missouri, after making a fuel stop, at which time he filled all fuel tanks. The pilot received visual flight rules (VFR) flight following enroute to HSD. He flew for approximately one hour, while using fuel from the main tanks. The pilot then switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks, and flew for another forty-five minutes and arrived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City Approach Control terminated radar services when the pilot reported the airport in sight. The pilot turned final to Runway 17, approximately three miles north of the airport and lowered the flaps to fifteen degrees. The pilot stated he was at an altitude of 2,500 MSL, when the left engine lost power. Approximately ten seconds later, the right engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with the landing gear up, approximately two miles north of HSD.
Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed wrinkling of the upper surfaces of both wings. The main fuel tanks were visually inspected and found to be one-third to one-half full of fuel. The auxiliary tanks were found to be empty. The fuel selector valves were found in the auxiliary position for both engines. The pilot reported that he was distracted by weather and communications with Oklahoma City Approach Control, and forgot to switch tanks.
At Will Rogers World Airport, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, located 17 miles southwest of the accident site, the Automated Surface Observing Station (OKC) at 1414 reported winds from 140 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 26 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, with a broken ceiling at 2,200, and overcast skies at 6,000. The temperature was reported as 10 degrees Celsius, dewpoint as minus 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of Mercury.
Despite several attempts, the pilot failed to return the completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N815M
- Reported as
- Cessna 310-H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310H0042
- Airframe hours
- 6,355
- Engine
- Continental IO-470, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael Lee Spiller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MVN · Mount Vernon, IL
- Destination
- HSD · Oklahoma City, OK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 8, 2003
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 110 in this make and model · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 21 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.