- Date
- June 23, 1992, 11:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place
- Sedona, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N29926Waco UPF-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920623021529A
- Case key
- 27436
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 pilots inadequate preflight planning and his failure to refuel the airplane prior to departure. Factors in the accident were: 1) the unreliable fuel sight gauges which were contaminated with a tar like residue which may have provided an erroneous indication of fuel in the system, 2) inadequate airplane maintenance, and, 3) the unsuitable tree covered nature of the terrain where the forced landing was attempted.
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 was providing for hire sightseeing tours of a scenic area of Sedona, Arizona, in a vintage biplane. The front cockpit had been modified to accommodate two passengers. No record of an approved seat modification in accordance with factory specifications or a FAA field approval was located. The pilot stated that he departed with 10 gallons of fuel on board for a 30 minute tour. He could not say how the fuel was distributed in the tanks. He also said he did not use a dip stick or other measuring device to quantify the fuel level, but estimated the total fuel based on consumption estimates from prior flights. The airplane has two 25 gallon fuel tanks in the top wings with float sight gauges underwing. The aircraft maintenance manual states that 10 gallons of fuel is the minimum required for takeoff in the tank selected. Regarding the sight gauges, the manual states: 'an accurate reading cannot be obtained from the gasoline gauges on the ground'. Both gauges were contaminated with a tar like substance adhering to the wire indicators, which resembled an unidentified coating found inside the fuel tanks. Examination of the fuel system disclosed that only residual fuel remained in the fuel tanks and lines to the engine. Fuel system continuity was established.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N29926
- Reported as
- Waco UPF-7
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5423
- Engine
- Continental W670-6A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Out Of Arizona Biplane Tours
- Registered owner
- Ralph Ramsey DBA R&S Ent.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 23, 1992 · 115 hours before
- Departed
- SEZ
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 146 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N29926 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.