# NTSB IAD05LA062: Aeronca 65, N34482, Sanborn, NY, May 13, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2005, 11:17 local (15:17 UTC) - Place: Sanborn, NY - Coordinates: 43.136337, -78.886981 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1363&lon=-78.8870&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61472/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and subsequent loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation/exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis En route to another airport to buy fuel, the engine lost power, and the pilot force-landed the airplane, hitting trees during the descent. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the fuel tank or fuel lines, and the pilot had not "sticked" the fuel prior to the flight. The pilot had bought 5 gallons of fuel on the day before the accident, and had another airplane that was full of fuel. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2005, at 1117 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 65, N34482, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Sanborn, New York. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed between the pilot's private airstrip in Sanborn, and North Buffalo Suburban Airport (0G0), Lockport, New York. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, after takeoff, he headed the airplane toward the northeast, and with his "hand on [the] throttle, [the] engine faltered." The pilot "pumped" the throttle, and the engine "returned to normal for 3-5 seconds," then "quit completely." The pilot turned the airplane away from some houses, and towards some woods. Once over the woods, the airplane stalled into the tops of 50- to 60-foot trees, caught on some limbs, and nosed down to the ground. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel supply line fitting was broken off and there were no fuel stains on the inside or outside of the lower cowling in the vicinity of where the line was located; there was no fuel in the engine fuel strainer, and the screen was clean; there was no fuel in the supply line from the fuel shutoff valve to the strainer; and there was no fuel in the fuel tank. In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel spill on the ground where the airplane had come to rest. The FAA inspector also spoke with the pilot, who stated that he had put 5 gallons of fuel in the airplane on the day before the accident, but had not "stacked" the tanks on the day of the accident. The purpose of the flight was to go to another airport to top off the fuel tanks. The inspector checked the fuel log, which confirmed that the pilot had bought fuel. The pilot also had another airplane that was full of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34482](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34482-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N C14941, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 65 - Registry model: [Aeronca 65-CA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-ca) (registry code 0190922) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CA14941 - Engines: Continental 65HPCA 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wayne G. Rivers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 0.5 hours before - Departed: NONE, Sanborn, NY - Destination: 0G0, Lockport, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,073 total, 150 in this make and model, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: IAG, 8 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 20050513009539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050513009539A), May 13, 2005: Trytek 65CA, Sanborn, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 13, 2005, at 1130 EDT, a Aeronca chief, N34482 registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] lost power after take off and landed in a wooded… ## Other investigations on N34482 (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 LAX98LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA217), Jun 29, 1998: Aeronca Chief 65-CA (N34482), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout. 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.