# NTSB SEA96LA204: Price Acro Sport II, N456HD, Coeur D'Alene, ID, August 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1996, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Coeur D'Alene, ID - Coordinates: 47.589603, -116.909057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5896&lon=-116.9091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA204 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision, and his failure to properly monitor (manage) the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing. Soft terrain in the forced landing area was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot noted that he had departed his home base after using a dip-stick to check the fuel quantity. He landed at another airport to pick up a passenger, then departed and proceeded to a practice area near another airport. He said he became engrossed in practicing flight maneuvers; and about two hours after initial takeoff, the engine quit producing power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot maneuvered for a forced landing at the airport near the practice area, but had to complete his forced landing off airport due to a potential conflict with landing traffic that was ahead. During a turn to his selected forced landing site, his descent rate increased. When he rolled the wings level, he had insufficient altitude and airspeed to avoid a firm touchdown in soft dirt. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 1996, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Price Acro Sport II, N456HD, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after fuel exhaustion near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured. The pilot was on a local flight, with a landing planned at Silverwood recreational park. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted under visual meteorological conditions. There was no report of the ELT actuating. No fuel was found in the aircraft by FAA inspectors, whom the pilot told that he had run out of fuel. In a written statement, the pilot noted that he had left Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, about 0930 after dip-sticking the fuel quantity. He had landed at Couer d'Alene to pick up a passenger, then departed at 1030 and proceeded to a practice area near Silverwood Airport. He said he became engrossed in practicing flight maneuvers. At 1130 the engine quit producing power due to fuel exhaustion. He maneuvered for a forced landing at Silverwood, but had to complete his forced landing off-airport due to a potential conflict with landing traffic that was ahead of him. During maneuvers for the forced landing, his descent rate in a turn built up so that when he rolled wings level, he had insufficient altitude and airspeed to avoid a hard landing. The landing gear collapsed after the hard landing in soft dirt. The pilot attributed the accident to fuel exhaustion, noting that experience didn't help. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N456HD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N456HD-2010-09-10), registration cancelled 2010-09-10, S/N 254, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Price ACRO SPORT II (ACRO SPORT) - Registry model: [Price Ron ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/price-ron-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05646BT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 254 - Airframe hours: 251 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harvey J. Dewitt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1996, 8 hours before - Departed: CDA, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,800 total, 40 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19960824023939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960824023939A), Aug 24, 1996: Amtr ACROSPORT, Coeur D'Alene, ID, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel after long cross country and local manuevers. Tried for airport unable due traffic. Hard 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.