NYC96LA021

The pilot departed with 10 gallons of fuel onboard and with the intention of refueling at a nearby airport. After he arrived at the airport, instead of refueling, he remained in the traffic pattern and performed touch-and-go landings. After the fifth landing, the engine lost power while the airplane was on initial climb and struck trees during a forced landing. No evidence of a fuel spill or fuel odor was observed by those, who responded to the site. The airplane had been airborne for about 50 to 55 minutes, when the power loss occurred.

On October 31, 1995, at 1521 eastern standard time, a Vans RV-6, N9234B, an experimental, homebuilt airplane, was destroyed during a forced landing, after takeoff from the Sullivan Airport, Monticello, New York. The commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which departed about 1 minute earlier, and which was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:

Practiced landings on runway 33. After a go around during climb out at an estimated 400 feet AGL the engine quit. A turn about 100 degrees to the left was made attempting an emergency landing on a small country road. A utility pole was to the right and tree to the left. Before touch down the left wing contacted the tree. The aircraft impacted the ground with right wing and nose and flipped over on its back coming to rest on the side of the road.

In a telephone interview, the FAA Operations Inspector who traveled to the scene reported that the pilot departed from Montgomery, with the intention of refueling at Monticello. Once he arrived at Monticello, he remained in the traffic pattern and performed touch and go landings. After about five landings, the engine lost power on the climb, and the airplane struck trees on the forced landing. The pilot had departed with about 10 gallons of fuel on board, and had been airborne for about 50 to 55 minutes when the power loss occurred.

There was no evidence of fuel in the tank at impact. There was no evidence of fuel on the ground, and no odor of fuel at the site. When the airplane was turned over, only a couple of ounces of fuel were visible.