# NTSB GAA16CA486: Champion 7GC, N4831E, Palmer, AK, September 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2016, 16:30 local (Sep 4, 2016, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.619754, -148.980041 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6198&lon=-148.9800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA486 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94010/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94010 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA486 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to assess the airplane’s fuel quantity before departure, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the single-engine airplane, shortly after takeoff and about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. He reported that he attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a hay field; the airplane landed hard and struck a telephone pole. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) that he did not preflight the airplane or check the fuel level before departure and that there should have been fuel in the tanks from the last flight in June 2016, 3 months before the accident. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) who received the initial notification that "he ran the airplane out of gas." He further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The NTSB IIC attempted to contact the pilot on multiple occasions but was informed by the FAA ASI that the pilot was out of the country for the winter. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the single engine airplane, shortly after takeoff and about 500 feet above ground level the engine lost power. He reported that he attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in a hay field; the airplane landed hard and struck a telephone pole. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) that he did not preflight the airplane or check the fuel level before departure, and that there should have been fuel in the tanks from the last flight in June 2016, three months prior. The pilot reported to the NTSB Investigator who received the initial notification that, "he ran the airplane out of gas." He further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal flight operations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-charge attempted to contact the pilot on multiple occasions, but was informed by the FAA Inspector that the pilot was out of the country for the winter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4831E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4831E), registered now, S/N 7GC-39, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Champion 7GC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gc) (registry code 21101N2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7GC-39 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2B 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: Palmer, AK - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 1,000 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Observed at: UHMM, 215 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 20160903023959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160903023959A), Sep 3, 2016: Champion 7GC, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that he lost power/engine quit approx 5 min after takeoff at 500FT altitude. Made emergency landing into hay field. Landed hard, gear collapsed… ## Other investigations on N4831E (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC75DAG46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75DAG46), Jul 26, 1974: Champion 7GC (N4831E), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94010. 1.2 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (Thews) (item 1, .PDF, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20(Thews)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 742 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.