# NTSB MIA95LA028: Bellanca 14-13, N74232, Tunica, MS, November 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 1994, 18:30 local (Nov 24, 1994, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Tunica, MS - Coordinates: 34.810535, -90.310386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8105&lon=-90.3104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37699/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA028 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAY IN OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AFTER BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO NAVIGATE USING THE VOR SYSTEM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - proper assistance - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command - navigation receiver - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD FLOWN IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE NAVIGATING USING A GPS UNIT, THE BATTERIES IN THE UNIT FAILED ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE ARRIVAL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT VISUALLY BUT STATED THAT HE DELAYED OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE ON-BOARD VOR TO ESTABLISH HIS POSITION. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 1994, about 1830 central standard time, a Bellanca 14-13, N74232, registered to Peter P. Kosloski, crashed in a parking lot of a casino near Tunica, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Moore-Murrell Airport, Morristown, Tennessee, about 1430. The pilot stated that he had flown this trip several times and he did not on this flight perform fuel consumption calculations. He also stated that he was navigating using a global positioning system (GPS) unit and about 10 minutes before arrival at his planned destination airport, the batteries in the GPS unit failed. He continued the flight looking for the airport and stated that he delayed obtaining assistance from air traffic control and did not attempt to use the VOR navigation system in his airplane to determine his position. He located a place to perform a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion and after touchdown during the landing roll, the airplane collided with trees then came to rest. The last Biennial Flight Review was accomplished on February 22, 1992. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74232](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74232-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 1345, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 14-13 - Registry model: [Bellanca 14-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-13) (registry code 1201002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1345 - Airframe hours: 3252 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4150B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kosloski, Peter P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1993, 24 hours before - Departed: MOR, MORRISTOWN, TN - Destination: OLV, OLIVE BRANCH, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,900 total, 80 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 29 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 19941123039119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941123039119A), Nov 23, 1994: Blanca 1413, Tunica, MS, Substantial damage. GPS lost power. Became lost. Failed use VOR or ATC. Ran out of fuel. Overran open field landing. Ran into trees. ## Other investigations on N74232 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC72FLJ35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FLJ35), Jun 14, 1972: Bellanca 14-13 (N74232), Goldsboro, NC, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.