# NTSB SEA94LA217: Allen D. Potts WAG-A-BOND, N47AT, Benton City, WA, August 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1994, 09:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Benton City, WA - Coordinates: 46.239974, -119.490905 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2400&lon=-119.4909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42004/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA217 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SOFT TERRAIN. ## 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) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE DESCENDING TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD; HOWEVER, DUE TO STRONG WINDS AT THE SURFACE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON THE SOFT DIRT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ENGINE, BUT THAT HE SUSPECTED FUEL STARVATION THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1994, at 0905 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Allen D. Potts Wag-A-Bond, N47AT, nosed over during the landing roll on an open field after the engine experienced a loss of power, five miles south of Benton City, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The pilot rated passenger was not injured. The flight had departed from Vancouver, Washington, on August 21, 1994, at 0800, as a personal flight. The pilot reported that during the descent for landing to Kennewick, Washington, the engine experienced a loss of power. The airplane was unable to make it to the airport and the pilot elected to initiate a forced landing, to the south, on a dirt road. During the approach, a strong wind from the west was present. The pilot was unable to remain aligned with the road and the airplane touched down in a plowed field next to the road. During the landing roll in soft dirt, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the engine, however, during a telephone interview the pilot stated that he suspected fuel starvation that resulted in the loss of engine power. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Renton, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, reported that several gallons of fuel vented from the wing when the airplane was turned right-side-up. The pilot reported to the Inspector that one hour and fifteen minutes of fuel remained in the system at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47AT), registered now, S/N 147 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALLEN D. POTTS WAG-A-BOND - Registry model: [Potts Allen D WAG-A-BOND](https://openairdocs.org/model/potts-allen-d-wag-a-bond) (registry code 05655RC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 147 - Airframe hours: 444 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2C 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Potts, Allen D. - Registered owner: Potts, Allen D. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: 59S, VANCOUVER, WA - Destination: S98, KENNEWICK, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 556 total, 445 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19940821026669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940821026669A), Aug 21, 1994: Amtrwa WAGABOND, Benton City, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Tried for a road. Drifted into plowed field. Nosed over. Cause power loss undetermined. 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.