# NTSB FTW94LA184: Lockheed P-38, N38LL, Breckenridge, TX, May 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 28, 1994, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Breckenridge, TX - Coordinates: 32.749572, -98.909156 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7496&lon=-98.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA184 ## Probable cause THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF POWER DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - all engines - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK NUMEROUS TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT ONLY THE LEFT PROPELLER SWITCH WAS IN THE FEATHER POSITION AND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE DROP TANK POSITION. DROP TANKS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOTS FLIGHT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL INDICATES THAT WARM UP, TAKEOFF AND THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE FUEL SELECTORS IN THE RESERVE POSITION. THE RESERVE TANKS DID NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 3 HOURS AND FORTY-ONE MINUTES IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, OF WHICH ONE HOUR AND FORTY-ONE MINUTES WERE WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 1994, at 1620 central daylight time, a Lockheed P-38, N38LL, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Breckenridge, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. Witnesses reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, that they observed the airplane takeoff and "appear to have trouble gaining altitude." They further reported they observed the airplane "yaw" and the left propeller go to the feather position. The pilot/operator report stated the following information. The pilot had a total of 3 hours and forty-one minutes in this make and model of airplane prior to this flight, of which one hour and forty-one minutes were within the last 30 days. The left engine lost power, and then regained normal power. The right engine lost power, followed by the left engine. Then both engines began to surge. The left engine again lost power, and the propeller was feathered. During the emergency descent the right engine continued to surge. During the landing, the airplane struck numerous trees. The FAA inspector reported physical evidence indicating that the left propeller was feathered and that the right propeller was wind milling. Inspection of the cockpit revealed that only the left propeller switch was in the feather position. The fuel selector valve was in the drop tank position, and drop tanks were not installed. Inspection of the fuel system revealed both main fuel tanks contained fuel to a level of approximately 4 inches below the filler opening. Both sumps of the main tanks were drained and appeared to contain clean aviation fuel. The two reserve tanks did not contain any fuel. They are located in the wing between the fuselage and the engine, just aft of the main fuel tanks. Both outer wing tanks located outboard of the engines were empty. The two header/surge tanks were empty. The header/surge tanks are located in the area under the optional rear seat, and are connected to the main fuel tanks. Two drain valves on the right lower side of the fuselage were broken and it appeared fuel had drained out. These two drains are connected to the header/surge tanks. Fuel filters installed on the left and right engines were clean and no evidence of fuel was present. The Pilots Flight Operating Instructions manual for the aircraft (included) indicates in paragraph 4.b. (1) that warm up, takeoff and the first 15 minutes of flight should be made with the fuel selectors in the reserve position, which did not have any evidence of fuel during the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38LL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38LL), registered now, S/N AAF 42-104088, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LOCKHEED P-38 - Registry model: [Lockheed-Confederate Airforce P-38](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-confederate-airforce-p-38) (registry code 5260201) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AFF42-104088 - Engines: ALLISON V-1710-111 1425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Orr, Joe K. - Registered owner: American Air Power Heritage - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1994 - Destination: BKD, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 23,908 total, 4 in this make and model, 19,000 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19940528012799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940528012799A), May 28, 1994: Lkheed P38CAF, Breckenridge, TX, Substantial damage. Lost both engines on climbout due fuel starvation. Mismanged fuel. Selected drop tank. None installed. 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.