# NTSB MIA92LA015: Rockwell 685, N32652, Tupelo, MS, October 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1991, 10:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place: Tupelo, MS
- Location: 34.2576° N, 88.7034° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tupelo, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2576&lon=-88.7034&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33022
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33022/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA015

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO INSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS PLACED ON THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - erratic
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command
  - refueling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

PILOT STATED AIRCRAFT FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES HAD NOT BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY. THE LAST TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN FOR REPAIR OF THE FUEL GAUGES, 12 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, HE BELIEVED 230 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS IN THE AIRCRAFT. SINCE THAT TIME HE CALCULATED HIS FUEL QUANTITY BY FUEL ADDED AND FUEL BURN ESTIMATES. WHILE ON APPROACH TO TUPELO BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. AFTER THE ACCIDENT LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32652](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32652-1994-08-15), registration cancelled 1994-08-15, S/N 12029 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 685
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 685](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-685) (registry code 7630513) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12029
- Airframe hours: 1755
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-K 435 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bill T. Fields
- Registered owner: Bill T. Fields
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1991, 40 hours before
- Departed: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,410 total, 162 in this make and model, 6,243 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUP, 4 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 19911019047029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911019047029A), Oct 19, 1991: Gulstm 685, Tupelo, MS, Substantial damage. Both engines quit on landing approach. Made hard forced landing in a field. Pilot was aware of erractic fuel gauges

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.

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