NTSB Identification: CEN16LA314
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, August 05, 2016 in Valley City, ND
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/17/2017
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER S2R, registration: N5599X
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The commercial pilot reported that, before departure for the agricultural application flight, the airplane was loaded with 300 gallons of water and spray solution and an undetermined amount of fuel was added to the left fuel tank. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection. After departure, he flew 5 miles south of the private strip and proceeded to spray a 130-acre field. When the spray solution was depleted, the pilot flew back toward the private strip and noticed that the fuel quantity indicators showed 1/4 full in the right tank and 1/8 full in the left tank. The pilot stated that, about 1.5 miles southeast of the private strip and about 400 ft above ground level, the engine “sputtered” and experienced a loss of power. He made a forced landing to a field, and the airplane entered a swampy area and then nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
During a postaccident examination of the airplane, no fuel was found in the fuel lines to the engine or in the fuel tanks. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the airplane was not fueled with sufficient fuel to complete the flight and that this, combined with the pilot’s failure to check the fuel quantity before departure and ensure that sufficient fuel was onboard for the flight, resulted in fuel exhaustion.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fargo, North Dakota
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Registered Owner: Lakeview Aviation Inc
Operator: Lakeview Aviation Inc
http://registry.faa.gov/N5599X
NTSB Identification: CEN16LA314
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, August 05, 2016 in Valley City, ND
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER S2R, registration: N5599X
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 5, 2016, about 1450 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R airplane, N5599X, made a forced landing to a swampy field following a total loss of engine power. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lakeview Aviation Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed from a private grass strip at an unknown time.
The pilot reported that prior to the departure the airplane was loaded with 300 gallons of water and spray solution and an undetermined amount of fuel. After departure, the pilot flew 5 miles south of the private strip and proceeded to spray a 130 acre field. When the spray solution was depleted, the pilot flew back toward the private strip and noticed the fuel quantity indicators showed 1/4 remaining in the right tank and 1/8 remaining in the left tank. About 1.5 miles southeast of the private strip and about 400 ft above ground level the engine "sputtered" and experienced a loss of power. He made a forced landing to a field and the airplane nosed over when it entered a swampy area. The pilot noted that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
According to the pilot's statement, the person who fueled the airplane stated that before the fueling process began, the fuel indicators were reading ½ full in the right tank and ¼ full in the left tank. The fueler only added fuel to the left tank, but he could not remember the exact amount added and assumed the fuel system would equalize the amount both tanks. The pilot stated the capacity of each fuel tank is 53 gallons and if the fueler only added fuel to the left tank then he couldn't have added more than 40 gallons. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tanks before departure for the flight that reportedly lasted over an hour.
The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine and found no presence of fuel in the fuel lines to the engine. The fuel filler caps were removed and no fuel was present. The propeller blades did not sustain any leading edge damage or chordwise scratches. The inspector noted that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, August 05, 2016 in Valley City, ND
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER S2R, registration: N5599X
Injuries: 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 5, 2016, about 1500 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R airplane, N5599X, made a forced landing to a wet field following a total loss of engine power. The pilot sustained minor injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to an operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he was completing an aerial application run and was returning to his home base when he noticed the fuel quantity indicators showing 1/4 on one side and 1/8 on the other side. About 450 ft above ground level (agl) the engine "sputtered" and then experienced a total loss of power. He made a forced landing into a field and the airplane nosed over when it entered a swampy area. The airplane came to rest inverted and the pilot pushed out the windscreen in order to exit.
The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine and found no presence of fuel in the fuel lines to the engine. The propeller blades did not sustain any leading edge damage or chordwise scratches. The fuel filler caps were removed and no fuel was noted.
Accident occurred Friday, August 05, 2016 in Valley City, ND
Aircraft: AERO COMMANDER S2R, registration: N5599X
Injuries: 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 5, 2016, about 1500 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R airplane, N5599X, made a forced landing to a wet field following a total loss of engine power. The pilot sustained minor injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to an operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he was completing an aerial application run and was returning to his home base when he noticed the fuel quantity indicators showing 1/4 on one side and 1/8 on the other side. About 450 ft above ground level (agl) the engine "sputtered" and then experienced a total loss of power. He made a forced landing into a field and the airplane nosed over when it entered a swampy area. The airplane came to rest inverted and the pilot pushed out the windscreen in order to exit.
The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine and found no presence of fuel in the fuel lines to the engine. The propeller blades did not sustain any leading edge damage or chordwise scratches. The fuel filler caps were removed and no fuel was noted.
Brian Welken, 45, of Valley City was flying in the Sanborn area when he experienced difficulties with the aircraft and attempted to set the plane down in an open field. While doing so, the plane clipped a corn field, flipped over onto its top and crashed in a slough in about 3-4 feet of water.
Lance Peterson says he was one of the first people on scene. He took pictures of the plane and shared them with Valley News Live.
Barnes County Sheriff’s Deputy Don Fiebiger, told News Dakota that Welken used an air pocket trapped in the craft to breathe before escaping from the plane. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Source: http://www.valleynewslive.com
On Friday, August 5th, 2016, at approximately 2:48 pm, ND Highway Patrol and Barnes County Sheriff’s Office officers responded to a report of a plane crash one mile south of I-94 exit 283, approximately 8 miles east of Valley City.
A 1974 Thrush cropduster was flying in the Sanborn area when the pilot experienced difficulties with the aircraft and attempted to set the plane down in an open field. While doing so, the plane clipped a corn field and came to rest in a slough, upside down, one mile south of I-94 Exit 283.
The pilot, Brian Welken, 45 YOA, Valley City, was able to extricate himself from the aircraft and was transported to Mercy Hospital in Valley City for non-life threatening injuries.
In addition to the HP and SO, the Sanborn FD & 1st Responders, Valley City FD & 1st Responders and the Barnes County Ambulance Service responded to the crash scene.
The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The NDHP will not be releasing any other details about the crash.
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