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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 16, 1992 · North American Navion · N4021K

Elbe, WA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 16, 1992
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Location
Elbe, WA
Aircraft
North American Navion
Tail Number
N4021K
Operator
Smith Scott W Iii & Chris A
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA92LA062

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 pursued due to a finding of 'severe vapor lock' during its use.

NTSB 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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:38 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American Navion
Tail NumberN4021K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSmith Scott W Iii & Chris A
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-225-4 · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data