- Date
- June 18, 1995, 19:32 local (Jun 19, 1995, 00:32 UTC)
- Place
- Cleburne, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N901SStewart Pitts S-1S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950618042109A
- Case key
- 19460
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged flare and the ensuing hard landing. Factors were the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations and the fuel exhaustion.
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 pilot reported that the airplane had 8 gallons of fuel onboard. Thirty minutes into his cross country flight the engine 'coughed.' He pumped the airplane's wobble fuel pump and the engine 'cleared.' Approximately 2 miles further, the engine 'stopped.' During the forced landing to a field, the airplane landed 'hard', nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by the federal aviation administration inspector revealed less than 1/2 cup of fuel in the airplane; and, there was no evidence of fuel spillage. The engine manufacturer operator's manual indicates that the fuel burn rates for this engine at normal rated power is 16.1 gallons per hour.
Factual narrative
On June 18, 1995, at 1932 central daylight time, a Stewart Pitts S-1S, N901S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Cleburne, Texas. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was being operated by the owner/builder under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Aero Country Airport near McKinney, Texas, at 1900. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed.
On the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot stated that there were 8 gallons of fuel in the tank during a preflight at McKinney. The pilot stated that this engine consumed 8 gallons per hour during cross country flights. Approximately 30 minutes after departure, the engine "coughed." The pilot pumped the wobble fuel pump and the engine "cleared." Subsequently the engine "stopped," and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. Following the "hard" landing, the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted.
Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that "less than 1/2 a cup of fuel was found in the aircraft's fuel system." No evidence of fuel spillage was found. The engine manufacturer operator's manual indicates the following fuel burn rates for this engine:
Normal Rated (2700 RPM, 200 HP) 16.1 Gal./Hr. 75% Rated (2450 RPM, 150 HP) 12.3 Gal./Hr. 65% Rated (2350 RPM, 130 HP) 9.5 Gal./Hr.
The 32 minutes of flight time reported by the pilot did not include fuel used for start up, taxi, and runup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N901S
- Reported as
- Stewart Pitts S-1S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- SA-901
- Airframe hours
- 170
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Shelton O. Stewart
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 1995 · 18 hours before
- Departed
- TX05 · Mckinney, TX
- Destination
- F18
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 445 total · 169 in this make and model · 378 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.