N914DA

On April 5, 2001, at 1516 central daylight time, an Empson F4UCorsair, homebuilt experimental airplane, N914DA, sustained substantial damage when it struck a fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The airplane was built, owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-county flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Conroe, Texas, at 1310.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that the planned destination was Lakeland, Florida, with the first refueling stop at Baton Rouge. Based upon his preflight planning, the airplane should have 1/2 hour of fuel remaining upon landing at Baton Rouge. He obtained a weather briefing from "flight service 10 minutes before departure, noting only the ceiling and visibility." The aircraft was fueled prior to the departure from Conroe, and the pilot used GPS navigation direct to Baton Rouge.

The pilot was instructed to fly the airplane on a 3-mile base for runway 22R at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, and subsequently the pilot was cleared to land the airplane on runway 22R. Before turning the airplane for the final approach, the engine "stopped." The pilot performed the emergency procedures and informed the tower controller that the flight would not make the runway. During the off airport landing in a field, the airplane slid and came to rest against a fence and fence post. The pilot reported that both spars of the left wing separated on impact.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, reported "fuel exhaustion." The pilot stated "this accident could have been prevented if I had used the wind information available at the time of departure and allowed for poor navigation, [and] more fuel burned than anticipated."