- Date
- March 13, 1994, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Opa-Locka, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N260CBSIAI-Marchetti F-260-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940313004889A
- Case key
- 37509
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 failure of the pilot-in-command to assure proper positioning of the fuel selector resulting in fuel starvation.
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 airplane was no. 2 in a flight of 2 for landing after a simulated aerial combat flight. On final approach the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a cemetery. The airplane collided with terrain during the landing. Inspection of the airplane revealed the fuel selector was positioned between the left and right tanks and the 'see-through' gascolator was empty.
Factual narrative
On March 13, 1994, about 1415 eastern standard time, N260CB, a Sia Marchetti F-260-C, operated by Air Combat USA Inc., crashed on approach to Opa-Locka Airport, Opa-Locka, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 acrobatic flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot received minor injuries and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight had originated about 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
The airplane was number two of a flight of two for landing when the engine failed on final approach. The pilot executed a forced landing to a cemetery off the airport. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed the fuel selector handle was positioned between the right and left main fuel tanks, and the "see through" gascolator was empty. A review of the onboard video and audio recording revealed no verbal use of the prelanding checklist.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N260CB
- Reported as
- SIAI-Marchetti F-260-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 303
- Airframe hours
- 3,896
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Air Combat USA Inc.
- Registered owner
- Blackstone, Mike E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 3, 1994 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- OPF
- Destination
- OPF · Opa Locka, FL
- Airport
- OPF · Opa-Locka
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,490 total · 195 in this make and model · 1,213 as pilot in command · 131 in the last 90 days · 43 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OPF, 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.