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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 23, 2003 · Mohr Starduster Too · N3696

Espanola, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 23, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Espanola, NM
Aircraft
Mohr Starduster Too
Tail Number
N3696
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN03LA055

The pilot was ferrying the airplane to its new owner. He stopped en route and refueled the airplane with approximately 18 gallons of fuel. This filled the tank to capacity. He "stuck" (or dipsticked) the tank "to determine fuel capacity and figured it must be close to what we were told (30 gallons). Apparently, it doesn't hold quite that much." After takeoff, he lost sight of the airplane he had been following. He elected to continue the flight. The airplane was not equipped with a navigation or communication radio. During this leg of the flight, the navigation chart blew out of the open cockpit. The pilot said he thought he could remember where he was going, but misidentified a landmark and crossed the mountains south of where he thought he was. As he circled a town to reorient himself, the engine lost power "due to fuel exhaustion." The airplane had been aloft 2 hours, 20 minutes. The pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, which he described as "unsuitable terrain." During the landing, the airplane struck an earth berm that tore off the landing gear. The lower right wing tip on the biplane was crushed and the propeller was bent.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper inflight planning in that he failed to consult the airplane flight manual, his use of incorrect fuel consumption figures, and fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the loss of the en route chart, the unavailability of a nav/comm radio, the pilot becoming lost/disoriented, and the berm.

Full Narrative

On March 23, 2003, approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Mohr Starduster Too, N3696, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing at Espanola, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and a student pilot-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Sterling, Colorado, approximately 1100. The following is based on a telephone conversation with the pilot and the accident report he submitted. The pilot was ferrying the airplane to its new owner in Taos, New Mexico. He stopped in La Junta, Colorado, and refueled the airplane with approximately 18 gallons of fuel. This filled the tank to capacity. He also "stuck" (or dipsticked) the tank "to determine fuel capacity and figured it must be close to what we were told (30 gallons). Apparently, it doesn't hold quite that much." After departing La Junta, they lost sight of the airplane they had been following. He elected to continue the flight. The airplane was not equipped with a navigation or communication radio. During this leg of the flight, the navigation chart blew out of the open cockpit. The pilot said he thought he could remember where he was going, but misidentified a landmark and crossed the mountains south of where he thought he was. As he circled Espanola to reorient himself, the engine lost power "due to fuel exhaustion." The airplane had been aloft 2 hours, 20 minutes. The pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, which he described as "unsuitable terrain." During the landing, the airplane struck an earth berm that tore off the landing gear. The lower right wing tip on the biplane was crushed and the propeller was bent.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMohr Starduster Too
Tail NumberN3696
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1F6 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class · Minor
Crew 2None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 28 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data