# NTSB FTW82DA161: Boeing E75, N5374N, Sterling City, TX, May 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1982, 20:00 local (May 3, 1982, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Sterling City, TX
- Coordinates: 31.829484, -100.979759 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8295&lon=-100.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72726/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA161

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - erratic (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEVINE, TX TO MONTANA FOR THE OWNER. HE RECEIVED ABOUT A HALF-HOUR OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THEN DEPARTED. SEVERAL EN ROUTE STOPS WERE MADE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHILE EN ROUTE FROM POINT TO POINT. WHEN HE LANDED AT SAN ANGELO, TX, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED JUST UNDER 1/2 FULL. HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO BIG SPRINGS, TX BELIEVING HE WOULD HAVE 30 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING. WHILE EN ROUTE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATING ABOUT 1/4 FULL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A ROAD, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK TREES BESIDE THE ROADWAY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY BUT THE GAUGE STILL INDICATED 1/4 FULL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5374N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5374N), registered now, S/N 75-5460, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING E75
- Registry model: [Boeing E75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75) (registry code 1380120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-5460
- Airframe hours: 3489
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce Anderson Construction Co
- Registered owner: Bruce Anderson Construction Co
- Departed: 23R, SAN ANGELO, TX
- Destination: BIG SPRING, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Observed at: SAT, 30 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 19820502018769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820502018769A), May 2, 1982: Boeing E75, Sterling City, TX, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. Fuel indicator error was a factor.

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.

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