Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lubbock, Texas
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N726JB
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Location: Clovis, NM
Accident Number: CEN15LA354
Date & Time: 08/09/2015, 0925 MDT
Registration: N726JB
Aircraft: CESSNA C421B
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he was approaching the airport for landing in the multi-engine airplane when both engines began to surge. The pilot attempted to switch to the auxiliary fuel tanks, but inadvertently switched the left engine fuel selector to the off position. The left engine subsequently experienced a total loss of engine power. On final approach for landing, the airplane impacted terrain and was subsequently consumed by a postimpact fire; the fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined. An examination of the airplane's engines and systems revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper management of fuel to the left engine during approach for landing, which resulted in a total loss of left engine power due to fuel starvation, and his subsequent failure to maintain control during the final landing approach, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Findings
Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid management (Cause)
Personnel issues
Incorrect action performance - Pilot (Cause)
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Factual Information
On August 9, 2015, at 0925 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N726JB, impacted terrain following a loss of left engine power during final approach for landing on runway 12 at Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN), Clovis, New Mexico. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Melrose, New Mexico, and was destined to CVN.
A completed National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1 was not received from the pilot, as required by Part 830.5, by either the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Coordinator for the accident.
Witness stated that they heard the airplane engines "popping" as it approached and entered the traffic pattern. The airplane left wing contacted terrain short of runway 12 and the airplane cartwheeled. A post-impact fire occurred and the wings and fuselage were severely damaged.
The pilot provided a limited statement to the FAA Coordinator, in which he stated he had ample fuel for the short flight from a private ranch in Melrose, New Mexico to CVN (30 miles to the east), when both engines began to surge. The pilot stated he attempted to switch both tanks to Auxiliary but inadvertently switched the left fuel selector to Off. The left engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot said he was too high to land on runway 22 and attempted to land on runway 12. However, the airplane impacted terrain approximately 1,000 feet southeast of the runway 12/22 intersection between runway 12 and the parallel taxiway. The aircraft was traveling southeast attempting to land on runway 12 before losing control.
An examination of the wreckage was conducted by an FAA inspector and the total amount of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined due to post impact damage and fire. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
History of Flight
Approach
Fuel starvation (Defining event)
Loss of engine power (total)
Approach-VFR pattern final
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/11/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 3700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 300 hours (Total, this make and model), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N726JB
Model/Series: C421B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 421B0020
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/22/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 7250 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: GTSIO-520-H
Registered Owner: Pilot
Rated Power: 375 hp
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: CVN, 4216 ft msl
Observation Time: 0915 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 16°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots/ 19 knots, 250°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Melrose, NM (PVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Clovis, NM (CVN)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0825 MDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 4216 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5697 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 34.426667, -103.077500 (est)
NTSB Identification: CEN15LA354
14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, August 09, 2015 in Clovis, NM
Aircraft: CESSNA C421B, registration: N726JB
Injuries: 1 Serious.
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 9, 2015, at 0925 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N726JB, impacted terrain following a loss of left engine power during final approach for landing at Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN), Clovis, New Mexico. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Melrose, New Mexico, and was destined to CVN.
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