# NTSB FTW93LA083: Swearingen SA-26AT, N34UA, Ardmore, OK, February 10, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 10, 1993, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Ardmore, OK - Coordinates: 35.659511, -97.319435 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6595&lon=-97.3194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18696/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA083 ## Probable cause PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE A FUEL LEAK IN THE WING AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - all engines - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,tank - leak (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING A MISSED APPROACH THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER TO BOTH ENGINES. THE PILOT SELECTED THE ONLY AREA AVAILABLE TO LAND. THE TERRAIN WAS MARKED BY TREES, FENCES, AND RISING TERRAIN. PRIOR TO THE MISSED APPROACH THE AIRPLANE HAD LANDED AT ANOTHER AIRPORT IN THE SAME TOWN. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO FERRY THE AIRPLANE TO A FACILITY TO REPAIR A FUEL LEAK IN THE WING ## Factual narrative On February 10, 1993, at approximately 1645 central standard time (CST) a Swearingen SA 26AT, N34UA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to unsuitable terrain. The Airline Transport Rated pilot, who was also the owner, was not injured during the visual flight rules flight. During a telephonic interview conducted by the investigator in charge, the pilot provided the following information. He had arrived at the Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport (1F0), Ardmore, Oklahoma, for the purpose of having aircraft maintenance performed, a fuel leak in the wing. He stated that he was told that the repair facility was at the other airport in Ardmore. He departed 1F0 for the Ardmore Municipal Airport (ARD), Ardmore, Oklahoma. As he approached ARD he realized that a localized fog bank had covered the airport, he requested and received clearance to conduct an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, however, he never gained visual recognition of the runway and executed a missed approach. He followed the published missed approach procedures and was climbing to 3,000 feet when the right engine lost power and, shortly thereafter, the left engine lost power. A forced landing was made to a field that was marked with trees, fences, and rising terrain. During the touchdown, with the gear retracted, the airplane struck a line of trees and sheared portions of the wing tips. During an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the pilot stated he ran out of gas. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a certified mechanic revealed that there was no usable fuel in either of the wing cells. The airplane was released to the owner following an examination of the maintenance records by the investigator in charge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34UA-1993-04-12), registration cancelled 1993-04-12, S/N T26145 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26AT - Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T26-145 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Heth, James B. - Registered owner: Heth, James B. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 42,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 42,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ADM, 10 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 19930210002189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930210002189A), Feb 10, 1993: Swrngn SA26AT, Ardmore, OK, Substantial damage. Both engines failed on missed approach. Struck trees in a obstructed field. Pilot reported he ran out of fuel. 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.