FTW94FA299

A witness stated the airplane flew over his house and 'the engine started to sputter and quit.' The airplane landed in a field and was fueled with 4.5 gallons of 100 octane low lead avgas. The airplane departed and flew to the flying oaks airport, Lakeside, Texas. The pilot fueled the airplane with 5.7 gallons of 87 octane unleaded auto fuel. The airplane took off to the north and returned to the airstrip with an engine problem. The pilot believed he was having a fuel starvation problem. The pilot cut the fuel cap gasket to open up the vent hole. The airplane took off to the south. After lift off the airplane angled off the right side of the runway and when the airplane reached 30 to 40 feet above the trees, the engine started to 'run rough.' The airplane turned towards the runway, and according to one witness, 'the engine quit and the left wing stalled and plane went in-straight.' An inspection of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of power.

History of flight

On September 18, 1994, approximately 1030 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ACA, N68529, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff near Lakeside, Texas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight.

The flight originated at Fort Worth Spinks Airport (FWS), near Burleson, Texas, with a destination of Lake Murray Airport (1F1), located south of Ardmore, Oklahoma. A witness stated the airplane flew over his house at approximately 800 feet AGL. He further stated, "the engine started to sputter and quit." He also reported the airplane landed in a field north of Aledo, Texas, and he drove the pilot to Parker County Airport (WEA) where the pilot purchased 4.5 gallons of 100 octane low lead avgas. A person in a Cessna 150 that was following the accident airplane landed, and helped put the fuel in the airplane. Both airplanes then departed and flew to the Flying Oaks Airport (private airstrip), Lakeside, Texas.

According to witnesses, the pilot fueled the airplane with 5.7 gallons of 87 octane unleaded automotive gasoline. He was then observed washing the airplane. The airplane took off to the north and returned to the airstrip with an engine problem.

The pilot stated to a witness he believed he was having a fuel starvation problem, and "perhaps the gas cap was sealing the vent hole." The pilot cut the fuel cap gasket to open up the vent hole, and told the witness he was going to test fly the airplane.

Witnesses observed the airplane taking off to the south. After lift off the airplane angled off approximately 100 to 150 feet to the right side of the runway. When the airplane reached 30 to 40 feet above the trees, the engine started to "run rough." As the airplane turned towards the runway the engine lost total power, the airplane nosed down and impacted the terrain in the near vertical position. According to one witness report, "the engine quit and the left wing stalled and plane went in-straight.

Aircraft information

The pilot purchased the airplane on May 15, 1994. The Aircraft Bill of Sale is enclosed. He had taken custody of the airplane on September 17, 1994, and was taking it to Tower, Minnesota.

The previous owner had finished a 4 year project of refurbishing the airplane prior to selling it. A major overhauled Continental A-65-8 engine was installed on April 4, 1994, to replace the standard Franklin A-120B engine. The engine did not have a STC for automotive fuel. According to the engine manufacturer's representative, this should not have had an effect on the loss of engine power.

A review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight.

Wreckage and impact information

The aircraft came to rest at the initial ground scar on its nose, on a measured magnetic heading of 310 degrees. The empennage was partially separated and displaced to the right. One blade of the propeller was shattered, and the other blade was bent back. Continuity was established to all flight controls. See enclosed wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution details.

Test and research

A disassembly inspection of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of power.

Medical and pathological information

The autopsy was performed by Marc A. Drouse, M.D. from the Office of Medical Examiner, Tarrant County, Texas. Toxicological findings were negative.

Additional data

The airplane wreckage was released to the owner's representative.