# NTSB IAD99LA002: Navion A, N4285K, Jaffrey, NH, October 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1998, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Jaffrey, NH - Location: 42.8114° N, 72.0234° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jaffrey, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8114&lon=-72.0234&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD99LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45146/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight and subsequent failure to refuel the aircraft resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain to execute a 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, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot conducted a preflight of the Navion A airplane confirming 20 gallons of fuel each in the left and right main tanks, but did not check the 20 gallon auxiliary tank. He then departed Mansfield, Massachusetts, flew a minimum of 69 statute miles and landed at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, subsequently departing without taking on fuel and flying for approximately two additional hours. He landed at Jaffrey again, and without shutting the airplane down, departed back to Mansfield. Shortly after departing Jaffrey and leveling off at 3,000 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. Unable to return to his departure field, and deeming his intended landing site as unsuitable, he executed a forced landing into tree tops. A post-crash examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed no fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks, and no evidence of fuel leakage. The pilot stated that 'Due to the power setting I chose to run the airplane at, the length of the flight, and my negligence to visually check and only operate the airplane based on the fuel gauge readings, I believe that it was my mistake in exhausting the fuel.' ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1998, approximately 1815 eastern daylight time, a Navion A, N4285K, being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a forced landing following a total loss of power near the Jaffrey Airport (AFN), Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The personal flight was to have been conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Mansfield airport (1B9), Mansfield, Massachusetts, about 1540. The pilot reported that he departed Mansfield after conducting a preflight of the aircraft and that "I checked the fuel in the main tanks seeing that I had 40 gallons in the two main tanks. I did not check the auxiliary tank." After departing Mansfield, he flew to Jaffrey (straight line distance 69 statute miles [refer to CHART I]) and then landed. He reported that after his arrival and subsequent departure from Jaffrey he "flew around the area and the lakes region of New Hampshire for approximately two hours" and further stated that "after landing I did not shut the plane down" and "I did not check the tanks visually." Additionally, the pilot reported that that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane (refer to attached NTSB form 6120.1/2). The pilot reported in a telephonic interview with the investigator-in-charge that he departed Mansfield approximately 1500 and did not refuel at Jaffrey, because when he completed his preflight inspection at Mansfield, he thought the auxiliary tank was full, and based on a fuel consumption of about 16 gallons per hour, he should have had adequate fuel to return to Mansfield. The total fuel capacity of the auxiliary tank was 20 gallons, and the combined total fuel capacity for the main tanks was 40 gallons. He further reported that when the engine lost power shortly after he leveled off at 3,000 feet MSL, he completed the emergency checklist which included switching to the auxiliary tank (the fuel selector had been positioned to the main tanks for departure). He realized that he did not have enough altitude to make the runway, so he elected to land in a field. As he got closer to the field, he noticed that it was unsuitable, so he decided to land the airplane in the tree tops. He reported that the gear and flaps were retracted as the aircraft mushed into the trees, and the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude, with the tail up in the trees. Post-crash examination of the aircraft by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Portland, Maine, Flight Standards District Office revealed no fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks, and no evidence of fuel leakage. The pilot concluded in his submitted NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (attached) that "Due to the power setting I chose to run the aircraft at, the length of the flight, and my negligence to visually check and only operate the aircraft based on the fuel gauge readings, I believe that it was my mistake in exhausting the fuel." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4285K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4285K-2002-04-10), registration cancelled 2002-04-10, S/N NAV-4-1285, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Navion A - Registry model: [Ryan NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion-a) (registry code 6150162) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-1285 - Airframe hours: 3547 - Engines: Continental IO-470-H 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kroll, Todd, J. - Registered owner: Flagg, F. & Casey, J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1998, 60 hours before - Departed: AFN, NH - Destination: 1B9, MANCHESTER, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 229 total, 15 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MHT, 26 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 19981003027939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981003027939A), Oct 3, 1998: Tmpson NAVIONA, Jaffery, NH, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine problems at the 3000 foot level after takeoff and struck trees while attempting to return to the arpt. Acft came to rest nose down with… ## Other investigations on N4285K (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 NYC95LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA116), May 20, 1995: Ryan Navion A (N4285K), Taunton, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to monitor his fuel supply, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, and a forced landing in rough terrain. 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.