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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 27, 1997 · Tomlinson Pober Super ACE Pober SUPE · N54JT

Lebanon, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 27, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lebanon, TN
Aircraft
Tomlinson Pober Super ACE Pober SUPE
Tail Number
N54JT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL97LA141

The pilot estimated that the airplane had 16 gallons of low lead aviation fuel in the tanks at takeoff. After takeoff the pilot switched the fuel selector from the fuselage tank to the wing tank. After 30 minutes of flight the pilot returned to the airport and entered the traffic pattern for landing. About 200 feet above the ground, while on final approach to land, the engine quit. Efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The airplane collided with a tree short of the active runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. Normal operational procedures for takeoff and landing require that the fuel selector be placed in the fuselage/front tank position. The pilot stated that he had not switched the fuel selector to the fuller fuel tank, fuselage/front tank, prior to the loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow normal checklist procedures that resulted in fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On September 27, 1997, at 1430 central daylight time, a Tomlinson, Pober Super Ace, N54JT, collided with a tree during an attempted emergency landing to the Lebanon Municipal Airport in Lebanon, Tennessee. The local pleasure flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Lebanon, Tennessee, at 1400. The pilot estimated that the airplane had 16 gallons of low lead aviation fuel in the tanks at takeoff. After takeoff the pilot switched the fuel selector from the fuselage tank to the wing tank. After 30 minutes of flight the pilot returned to Lebanon Airport and entered the traffic pattern for runway04. About 200 feet above the ground, while on final approach to land, the engine quit. Efforts, to restart the engine, failed. The airplane collided with a tree short runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. Normal operational procedures for takeoff and landing require that the fuel selector be placed in the fuselage/front tank position. The pilot stated that he had not switched the fuel selector to the fuller fuel tank, fuselage/front tank, prior to the loss of engine power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest AirportLebanon Municipal (0nm)
Runway4
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTomlinson Pober Super ACE Pober SUPE
Tail NumberN54JT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-C1C · Reciprocating · 115
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 14000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data