- Date
- September 17, 1996, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Bowling Green, KY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N66PGBellanca BL-26
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960917028549A
- Case key
- 28109
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 improper fuel consumption calculations and fuel exhaustion, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
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 while approaching the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport, the engine lost power, and subsequently, the airplane crashed into a corn field 10 miles south of the airport. An examination of the airplane revealed two gallons of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the auxiliary fuel tank and about 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank. There was no evidence of fuel leakage or damage to surrounding foliage. The fuel selector was found selected on the left fuel tank.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On September 17, 1996, at about 1245 central daylight time, a Bellanca BL-26, N66PG, sustained substantial damage after the pilot reported engine problems when it impacted terrain in a corn field 10 miles south of the airport while on approach to Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport, Bowling Green, Kentucky. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Enterprise, Alabama, at 0950 eastern daylight time. Instrument meteorological conditions existed and an IFR flight plan was filed in flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Neither the registered owner of the aircraft or the commercial pilot submitted a NTSB Form 6120.1/2, pilot/operator report after several requests.
Wreckage examination/documentation
According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to the case the flight departed Enterprise, Alabama, at 0950 eastern daylight time enroute to Bowling Green-Warren county Regional Airport, Bowling Green, Kentucky. While on approach the pilot reported that the engine had failed. On scene examination of the wreckage found the fuel tanks intact with no evidence of leakage. Further examination found know fuel stains on neither the wings nor any discoloration of the nearby foliage. A visual inspection of the fuel tanks revealed two gallons of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the auxiliary tank and about 1/2 gallon of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank. The throttle controls were intact and the fuel selector was set to the left fuel tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66PG
- Reported as
- Bellanca BL-26
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30057
- Engine
- Continental, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William C. Childree
- Registered owner
- Don A. Mynard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- EDN · Enterprise, AL
- Destination
- BWG · KY
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
- Airport
- BWG · Bowling Green Warren
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BWG, 10 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.