# NTSB MIA93LA037: Bunn, Richard B. Swearingen SX300, N336SX, Montgomery, AL, December 27, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1992, 14:44 local (20:44 UTC)
- Place: Montgomery, AL
- Location: 32.3668° N, 86.3000° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montgomery, AL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3668&lon=-86.3000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33208/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA037

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN FUEL LEAKS AND HIS FAILURE TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY EN ROUTE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER 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) - mech failure/malf, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fuel system,tank - leak (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT FILLED THE FUEL TANKS THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND FLEW AN UNKNOWN LENGTH OF TIME BACK TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE PILOT THEN FLEW FOR 3.0 HOURS ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT'S HOBBS METER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC A LOW FUEL STATE, AND AS THE ENGINE WAS FAILING THE PILOT REPORTED 'I AM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL.' THE RESCUE PERSONNEL WHO FIRST ARRIVED AT THE SCENE REPORTED THERE WAS NO FUEL LEAKAGE, FUEL ODOR, OR FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THE RIGHT AND LEFT WINGS HAD VISIBLE FUEL LEAKS AND FRESH SEALANT WAS VISIBLE IN ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE LEAKS. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT KIT MANUFACTURER THE AIRCRAFT HAS A NORMAL ENDURANCE OF ABOUT 4 HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N336SX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N336SX-1993-07-13), registration cancelled 1993-07-13, S/N 36 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUNN, RICHARD B. SWEARINGEN SX300 (SWEARINGEN)
- Registry model: [Bunn Richard B SWEARINGEN SX300](https://openairdocs.org/model/bunn-richard-b-swearingen-sx300) (registry code 05612XC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 36
- Airframe hours: 183
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-L1C5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bunn, Richard B.
- Registered owner: Bunn, Richard B.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1992, 88 hours before
- Departed: FD38, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 180 in this make and model, 4,100 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGM, 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 19921227051639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921227051639A), Dec 27, 1992: Amtres SX300, Montgomery, AL, Destroyed. Out of fuel on ILS approach. Crash landed. Had trouble finding localizer. Tuned wrong frequency. No chart.

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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