# NTSB FTW96LA257: Owens/Smyth Sidewinder, N177TJ, Minden, LA, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1996, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Minden, LA - Coordinates: 32.609035, -93.279808 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6090&lon=-93.2798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA257 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable 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(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis During flight, at about 2,500 feet, the engine lost power. A forced landing was made to a field with small saplings and bushes, and the airplane came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot reported that he departed Memphis with 17 gallons of fuel on board. The FAA inspector on the scene of the accident reported that he drained 3 tablespoons of fuel from the fuel tank. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation, 'When calibrating fuel capacity and markings for [the] fuel gauge, fuel should have been drained to see how the fuel gauge indicated as fuel was being used.' ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1996, approximately 1815 central daylight time, an Owens/Smyth Sidewinder homebuilt airplane, N177TJ, registered to and operated by a private owner, was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Minden, Louisiana. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight that originated near Memphis, Tennessee, 1 hour and 25 minutes earlier. The pilot reported that he was at about 2,500 feet MSL and about 15 miles from his destination airport of Shreveport Downtown Airport in Shreveport, Louisiana, when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in a right wing low attitude in a field covered with small saplings and bushes. Control was lost, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position. In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he departed Memphis with 17 gallons of fuel on board. The FAA inspector on the scene of the accident reported that he drained 3 tablespoons of fuel from the fuel tank. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation, "When calibrating fuel capacity and markings for [the] fuel gauge, fuel should have been drained to see how the fuel gauge indicated as fuel was being used." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177TJ-1996-08-08), registration cancelled 1996-08-08, S/N 2559 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Owens/Smyth SIDEWINDER - Registry model: [Owens Tom SMYTH SIDEWINDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/owens-tom-smyth-sidewinder) (registry code 05623EX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2559 - Airframe hours: 370 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tommy L. Owens - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1995, 60 hours before - Departed: 2M6, MEMPHIS, TN - Destination: DTN, SHREVEPORT, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,879 total, 370 in this make and model, 1,879 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °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 19960616014139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960616014139A), Jun 16, 1996: Amtr SIDEWINDER, Minden, LA, Substantial damage. Engine problems, made emergency landing. (-23) the pilot reported to shreveport rapcon that the aircraft engine was running rough and that he was 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.