N33879

Substantial
Minor

AERONCA 65 CAS/N: C14181

Accident Details

Date
Monday, September 30, 2013
NTSB Number
ERA13CA435
Location
Thomaston, GA
Event ID
20130930X03809
Coordinates
32.958332, -84.273612
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
2
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and in-flight monitoring of the fuel level which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N33879
Make
AERONCA
Serial Number
C14181
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
65 CAAR65
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MALAVOLTI AVIATION SERVICES LLC
Address
376 S AIRPORT ST
Status
Deregistered
City
TERRE HAUTE
State / Zip Code
IN 47803-9706
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled the day prior to the accident and flown 246 miles. Prior to the accident flight, which was 213 miles, the pilot added approximately 2 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tanks, which provided about 13 total gallons of fuel on board for the flight. While enroute to the intended destination the pilot made an unexpected landing to accommodate the needs of a passenger and was on the ground for about 8 minutes. The remaining portion of the flight was uneventful until approximately 12 miles from the destination airport when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road; however, the airplane impacted tree tops and came to rest in a nose down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. According to a report from the Sheriff's Department, the passenger stated "they ran out of fuel." Postaccident examination revealed about one quart of fuel remained in the fuel system and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or any other abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA435