# NTSB FTW98LA396: Dempsey Skybolt TD8, N350TD, Dundee, TX, September 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1998, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Dundee, TX - Coordinates: 33.810203, -98.679145 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8102&lon=-98.6791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43917/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA396 ## Probable cause Hard landing due to the pilot's improper landing flare. Factor were the fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel, and his lack of familiarity with the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, about 1 hour 20 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot reported that 'an attempt to flare for landing resulted in loss of airspeed rather quickly and the aircraft dropped from a near stall condition hitting the ground flat and hard.' Examination of the fuel system revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tank. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of fuel spillage. The pilot rated passenger had just purchased the homebuilt Skybolt TD8 experimental airplane, and it was being flown to Ohio. The airplane's fuel tank was topped off prior to departure. The planned time en route was 1 hour 30 minutes. The builder of the airplane reported that the capacity of the airplane's fuel tank was 29 gallons; however, the airplane's fuel tank capacity was measured at 22 gallons. According to the builder, the average fuel consumption for this airplane is 20 gallons per hour. The commercial pilot reported to the NTSB that this accident could have been prevented by a 'more thorough examination and verification of all phases of aircraft. Actual fuel capacity - consumption - etc. Don't make assumptions of the other persons work.' ## Factual narrative On September 11, 1998, at 1855 central daylight time, a Dempsey Skybolt TD8 experimental homebuilt airplane, N350TD, owned by the passenger, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Dundee, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The commercial rated pilot and his pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight departed from Snyder, Texas, about 1 hour 20 minutes before the accident with a destination of the Kickapoo Downtown Airport, Wichita Falls, Texas. The pilot's son (passenger) had just purchased the airplane in Odessa, Texas, and they were flying it home to Ohio. The commercial pilot reported to the FAA inspector that they departed Odessa and had stopped for fuel at the Winston Field Airport, at Snyder, Texas. After the airplane's fuel tank was topped off with 11.8 gallons of 100 octane low lead aviation fuel, they departed for Wichita Falls. The commercial pilot further reported that while in cruise flight at 1,500 feet msl, the engine lost power, and he initiated a forced landing to a field. He "pushed everything forward" and turned on the fuel boost pump; however, the engine did not restart. The pilot also reported that "an attempt to flare for landing resulted in loss of airspeed rather quickly and the aircraft dropped from a near stall condition hitting the ground flat and hard." The commercial pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section that a "more thorough examination and verification of all phases of aircraft. Actual fuel capacity - consumption - etc. Don't make assumptions of the other persons work." During a telephone interview, the private pilot rated passenger reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that they had a planned time en route of 1 hour 30 minutes at a power setting of 22 inches of manifold pressure and 2,200-2,300 rpm. The passenger further reported that after 1 hour 20 minutes the engine lost power. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that both main landing gear were collapsed, the fuselage sustained structural damage, and both lower wing spars were damaged. Examination of the fuel system revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tank. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of fuel spillage. The builder of the airplane reported to the FAA inspector and the NTSB IIC that the capacity of the airplane's fuel tank was 29 gallons. According to the builder, the average fuel consumption for this airplane is 20 gallons per hour. At Air Salvage of Dallas, Lancaster, Texas, the airplane's fuel tank capacity was measured at 22 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350TD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350TD-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 350TD, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dempsey SKYBOLT TD8 (SKYBOLT TD) - Registry model: [Dempsey Thomas L SKYBOLT T D 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/dempsey-thomas-l-skybolt-t-d-8) (registry code 0560331) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 350TD - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Zoellner - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SNK, SNYDER, TX - Destination: T47, WICHITA FALLS, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 22,000 total, 16 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 21 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SPS, 28 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 19980911023729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980911023729A), Sep 11, 1998: Amtr SKYBOLT, Dundee, TX, Substantial damage. Acft ran out of fuel, and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a field, acft sustained substantial damage. (-23) at approximately 1855 CDT on… 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.