- Date
- January 30, 2000, 14:36 local (22:36 UTC)
- Place
- Napa, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N65FDSiai-Marchetti SF260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000130011979A
- Case key
- 48580
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
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate en route fuel consumption calculations.
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 planned a nonstop flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Napa, California. Approaching Napa, he realized that his airplane was low on fuel, but he did not so advise control tower personnel. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and while on base leg experienced fuel exhaustion. Unable to glide to the airport, the airplane came to rest in a rough field about 300 yards short of the runway.
Factual narrative
On January 30, 2000, about 1436 hours Pacific standard time, a Siai-Marchetti SF260, N65FD, operated by the owner-pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power during a business flight approaching the Napa Airport, Napa, California. The pilot made a forced landing in a rough field about 300 yards short of runway 18R. During rollout the airplane encountered soft terrain and was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed, and was cancelled prior to the accident. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the flight originated from Phoenix, Arizona, about 0920 mountain standard time.
The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while en route he monitored the rate of fuel usage for the planned nonstop flight to Napa. He stated that approaching Napa he was aware the airplane was low on fuel. He did not advise the Napa air traffic control personnel of his fuel status. All engine power was suddenly lost while on the base leg of the traffic pattern, about 500 feet above ground level. The pilot additionally indicated that he switched fuel tanks and the engine ran for a couple of seconds before stopping again.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65FD
- Reported as
- Siai-Marchetti SF260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 723
- Airframe hours
- 2,025
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Greg E. Holbrook
- Registered owner
- Mach 1 Motorsports, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1999 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- PHX · Phoenix, AZ
- Destination
- APC · CA
- Airport
- APC · Napa, runway 18R, 5,931 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 698 total · 37 in this make and model · 596 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 37 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 135 °F, dew point 115 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APC, 1 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.