# NTSB SEA03LA127: Lockheed 402-2, N3380G, Headquarters, ID, July 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2003, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Headquarters, ID - Coordinates: 46.619167, -115.830001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6192&lon=-115.8300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane, Washington - NTSB case key (mKey): 57398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57398/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight planning and improper fuel consumption calculations. Factors contributing to the accident included the unfavorable wind condition, the downdraft, and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis With no refueler at departure airport, the pilot felt he had enough fuel to make it to his destination. En route he realized he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination and chose to return to the departure airport. Encountering a 25 knot headwind and realizing he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing at an old logging staging area/road. While attempting to land on the unused emergency strip, the aircraft encountered a downdraft and struck trees at the end of the runway. Both wings, the rudder, elevator, and both horizontal and vertical stabilizers sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2003, approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Lockheed 402-2 single-engine airplane, N3380G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while performing a precautionary landing near Headquarters, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and his two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Orofino, Municipal Airport, Orofino, Idaho, at 1135, and was destined for the Missoula International Airport, Missoula, Montana. In a statement provided to an FAA inspector, and as reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot related that "obtaining gas at Orofino is difficult to impossible." The pilot reported there wasn't any fueler available, so he took off believing he had enough fuel for the trip. The pilot further stated that when he realized he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination, he chose to return to Orofino. En route back to Orofino the pilot encountered a 25 knot headwind. The pilot stated that now realizing he would not have enough fuel to reach Orofino, he elected to make a precautionary landing at an old logging staging area/road. The pilot related, "While attempting a landing on an unused emergency strip, I encountered a downdraft and struck trees at the end of the runway. When I realized I would not make it, I aimed between the trees where there was a small gap. The emergency landing was precautionary." The FAA inspector reported substantial damage to both wings, the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, the rudder and the elevator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3380G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3380G-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 1010, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lockheed 402-2 - Registry model: [Lockheed Aircraft Intl 402-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-aircraft-intl-402-2) (registry code 5263406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSI0-470-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsi0-470-b) (registry code 17029, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1010 - Airframe hours: 2794 - Engines: Continental TSIO-470-B 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul E. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2003, 17 hours before - Departed: S68, Orofino, ID - Destination: Headquarters, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 31, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,986 total, 749 in this make and model, 1,986 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LWS, 61 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 20030704015839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030704015839A), Jul 4, 2003: Lkintl 4022, Headquarters, ID, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot departed orifino, ID airport for flight to Montana. Pilot did not fuel prior to departure because no fuel was available due to holiday. Engine… 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.