# NTSB SEA92LA062: North American Navion, N4021K, Elbe, WA, March 16, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1992, 18:38 local (Mar 16, 1992, 02:38 UTC) - Place: Elbe, WA - Coordinates: 46.760299, -122.159172 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7603&lon=-122.1592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41643/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA062 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION, IMPROPER FUEL, IMPROPER AIRCRAFT SERVICING (FUELING), AND CLEARANCE NOT POSSIBLE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: NO SUITABLE TERRAIN, LOW CEILINGS, DUSK AND TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fluid,fuel - improper (cause) - aircraft service - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis SHORTLY AFTER COMMENCING A DESCENT, AND SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER SWITCHING FROM THE 'AUX' TO 'MAIN' FUEL TANKS, THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A RESTART AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. UPON BREAKING OUT OF A 500 FOOT OVERCAST DURING DUSK CONDITIONS AND OVER AN OCCUPIED ROAD AND WOODED TERRAIN, THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THE ROAD TOWARDS THE ONLY SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THIS MANEUVER. POST CRASH EXAMINATION BY THE FAA REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT REPORTED DEPARTING MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON, WITH 20 GALLONS OF 80/87 OCTANE FUEL IN THE 'AUX' FUEL TANK AND A 50/50 MIX OF 100 LOW LEAD AND AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE IN THE 'MAIN' TANK. RESEARCH INTO THE ISSUANCE OF AN STC FOR AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE IN THE NAVION WAS NOT PURSED DUE TO A FINDING OF 'SEVERE VAPOR LOCK' DURING ITS USE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4021K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4021K), registered now, S/N NAV41021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION - Registry model: [North American NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (registry code 6150130) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-1021 - Engines: CONTINENTAL E-225-4 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smith, Scott W. III & Chris A. - Registered owner: Smith, Scott W. III & Chris A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1991, 30 hours before - Departed: MWH, MOSES LAKE, WA - Destination: OLY, OLYMPIA, WA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,749 total, 32 in this make and model, 2,525 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TCM, 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 19920315006239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920315006239A), Mar 15, 1992: Tmpson NAVION*, Elbe, WA, Destroyed. Engine quit en route IFR.broke out over highway but rolled into trees due traffic. Believe vapor lock from auto fuel ## Other investigations on N4021K (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 OAK69D0133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0133), Sep 3, 1968: Navion B (N4021K), Antioch, CA, 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.