Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On August 6, 2005, about 2010 eastern daylight time, a Raytheon A36, N838DM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Nashua, New Hampshire. The certificated commercial pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Laconia, New Hampshire, destined for Worcester (ORH), Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was owned by the pilot, and based at ORH.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he departed Laconia with the fuel gages indicating that the right fuel tank was 1/2 full, and the left fuel tank was 1/4 full. The pilot added that he intended to top off the fuel tanks when he returned to ORH. The takeoff was normal, however, approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, with the fuel selector selected to the left fuel tank, he noticed the right fuel tank was dropping. The pilot attempted to land at Boire Field, Nashua, New Hampshire; however, the engine experienced a total power loss, and the airplane impacted trees, about 1/2-mile northwest of the airport.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The inspector noted that both fuel tanks were compromised, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area surrounding the accident site.
At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 95 total hours, and 10 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on March 3, 2005.
The pilot did not submit the required NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form for the accident. According to FAA records, the pilot sold the airplane on March 9, 2006. With regard to the accident, the pilot informed the new owner and a mechanic that the airplane did not have any mechanical problems and he thought he could make it back to his home airport, when he experienced a power loss due to fuel exhaustion.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC05LA130