Summary
On July 02, 1998, a Wicks FLY BABY (N40349) was involved in an accident near Blissfield, MI. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's misjudging of the fuel supply and his inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was fuel exhaustion,.
On July 2, 1998, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Wicks Fly Baby, N40349, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage when it impacted the terrain, during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during takeoff from runway 27 (2,585' X 100') at the Betz Airport, Blissfield, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
During the forced landing the airplane nosed over. Initial emergency response personnel indicated no smell of fuel in or around the wreckage. There was no evidence of a fuel spill on the ground.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI98LA233. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N40349.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's misjudging of the fuel supply and his inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was fuel exhaustion,
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 2, 1998, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Wicks Fly Baby, N40349, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage when it impacted the terrain, during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during takeoff from runway 27 (2,585' X 100') at the Betz Airport, Blissfield, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
During the forced landing the airplane nosed over. Initial emergency response personnel indicated no smell of fuel in or around the wreckage. There was no evidence of a fuel spill on the ground. When the airplane was righted only unusable fuel was found in the tank. No other mechanical anomalies were found during the post accident examination.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI98LA233