- Date
- September 16, 1993, 17:34 local (22:34 UTC)
- Place
- Natchez, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N26CYSukhoi SU-26M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930916034449A
- Case key
- 37394
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
The pilot-in-command's failure to accurately calculate fuel consumption resulting in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while approaching the destination airport.
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 stated that the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion while descending to enter the traffic pattern at his destination airport after 2 hours and 20 minutes of flying. The owner of the aircraft stated the aircraft had a usable fuel capacity of 50 gallons and consumed between 20 and 21 gallons per hour.
Factual narrative
On September 16, 1993, at 1734 central daylight time, a Sukhoi SU-26M, N26CY, registered to Pompano Air Center, Inc., crashed into trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Natchez, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated at Panama City, Florida, on September 16, 1993, at 1512.
The pilot stated that while 4 miles from the Natchez-Adams County Airport, descending through 1,200 feet msl to airport pattern altitude, the engine failed. While performing a forced landing the aircraft crashed in a wooded area. He stated he had flown 2 hours 20 minutes since departure.
The registered owner of the aircraft stated the aircraft has a 50-gallon usable fuel capacity and that under normal conditions will consume an average of 20 gallons of fuel per hour.
The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that he flew from Cross City, Florida to Panama City, Florida in 1 hour. On departure from Cross City the aircraft's fuel tanks were full. On arrival at Panama City the fuel tanks were filled, requiring 20.8 gallons. See attached FAA inspectors report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N26CY
- Reported as
- Sukhoi SU-26M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0609
- Airframe hours
- 10
- Engine
- Vendeneyev M-14P, 360 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Crofton-Sleigh, Richard H.
- Registered owner
- Pompano Air Center, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 15, 1993 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- PFN · Panama City, FL
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
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,360 total · 10 in this make and model · 2,286 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HEZ, 3 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.