# NTSB NYC95LA116: Ryan Navion A, N4285K, Taunton, MA, May 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 1995, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Taunton, MA - Location: 41.9001° N, 71.0898° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taunton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9001&lon=-71.0898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38964/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA116 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to monitor his fuel supply, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel exhaustion, and a forced landing in rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A ROUGH FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM (37 GALLONS USEABLE), REVEALED IT WAS INTACT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE OR SIPHONING. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD STARTED WITH FULL TANKS AND THEN ADDED 10 GALLONS OF FUEL AFTER THE 2ND FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 3.6 HOURS AND MADE 5 TAKEOFFS WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT REPORTED HE COMPUTED THE FUEL BURN AT 12 GPH. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1995, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Ryan, Navion A, N4285K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Taunton, Massachusetts. The pilot, David E. Hugelet, and three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, at 2200 feet, the engine started to run rough, and then lost power. He initiated a forced landing to the Taunton Municipal Airport; however, the airplane had insufficient altitude to reach the airport. The pilot landed in an open field, 2 miles from the airport. During the landing, the nose gear was sheared off, and the left wing was bent. FAA Inspectors reported that the fuel system was intact, there was no fuel in the tanks, and there was no evidence of fuel siphoning or leakage. The fuel cap was in place. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown 3.6 hours, and made five takeoffs. The useable fuel supply of the airplane was 37 gallons. The pilot reported that on the preflight in the morning, the wing tanks were full. Ten gallons of fuel was added after the 2nd flight. The pilot did not check the wing tanks prior to departing on the accident flight. The pilot reported the fuel gauge read between 1/2 and 1/4 at takeoff. A passenger reported he thought the fuel gauge read 1/4 at takoff, and empty when the power loss occurred. The pilot reported that he based his flight planning on a fuel consumption rate of 12 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4285K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4285K-2002-04-10), registration cancelled 2002-04-10, S/N NAV-4-1285, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN NAVION A - Registry model: [Ryan NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion-a) (registry code 6150162) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-1285 - Airframe hours: 2231 - Engines: CONTINENTAL E-185 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Blue Hill Air - Registered owner: Frank Flagg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1994, 50 hours before - Departed: OWD, NORWOOD, MA - Destination: 1B2, EDGARTOWN, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 45 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19950520048749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950520048749A), May 20, 1995: Tmpson NAVIONA, Raynham, MA, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft enroute to katama (1B2) from norwood (owd) ma, when engine began running rough. Pilot made forced landing in a field. Pilot and 3 passengers… ## Other investigations on N4285K (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 IAD99LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA002), Oct 3, 1998: Navion A (N4285K), Jaffrey, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight and subsequent failure to refuel the aircraft resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain to execute a forced landing. 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.