Summary
On June 27, 1995, a Cessna 404 (N36998) was involved in an incident near Alamosa, CO. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: FBO PERSONNEL IMPROPERLY SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
On June 26, 1995, approximately 1855 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 404, N36998, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Alamosa, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The following is based on the pilot/operator report and a telephone interview with the pilot. The pilot instructed the lineman to service his airplane with 50 gallons of 100-LL aviation gasoline (25 gallons in each wing tank). After the airplane was refueled, the pilot drained the fuel tank sumps and noted a clear, blue-colored fuel that "smelled like gasoline."
The pilot took off on runway 02 and after climbing 400 feet, both engines began losing power.
This incident is documented in NTSB report FTW95LA264. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N36998.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
FBO PERSONNEL IMPROPERLY SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 26, 1995, approximately 1855 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 404, N36998, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Alamosa, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The following is based on the pilot/operator report and a telephone interview with the pilot. The pilot instructed the lineman to service his airplane with 50 gallons of 100-LL aviation gasoline (25 gallons in each wing tank). After the airplane was refueled, the pilot drained the fuel tank sumps and noted a clear, blue-colored fuel that "smelled like gasoline."
The pilot took off on runway 02 and after climbing 400 feet, both engines began losing power. The pilot turned around in an attempt to return to the airport, but was forced to make an intentional wheels-up landing on terrain 200 yards short of the runway. The pilot said both the fixed base operator and the lineman admitted inadvertently servicing the airplane with Jet-A fuel. The pilot said the fuel truck was not equipped with a jet fuel nozzle, but utilized a straight tip nozzle instead. The fixed base operator was contacted and he confirmed that his employee had inadvertently serviced the airplane with Jet-A fuel.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW95LA264