FlightFollowerPilot Error Causes Forced landing | Father & son onboard
Purpose of the flight
Local Part 91 personal flight.
Flight sequence and key events
The airplane sustained damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, landing gear, and both lower wings.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan.
The pilot reported that when returning from a local flight the airplane's engine lost all power about 2-3 miles from the airport.
The pilot executed a forced landing to a grass field; however, the field had a ravine running through it and he attempted to bounce the airplane over the ravine during the landing.
The airplane did not clear the ravine and struck the ravine wall.
The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation because he forgot to open the left fuel tank shut off valve.
He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
On May 19, 2016, about 1830 central daylight time, a Waco YMF airplane, N56ED, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near West Des Moines, Iowa.
Investigation findings
The accident demonstrates the difference between an engine that stops producing power and an airplane that has no remaining landing options. Here, fuel starvation caused the power loss, while the ravine became the immediate obstacle during the forced landing.
What the record establishes
The pilot’s mismanagement of the airplane’s fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
What the evidence shows
The engine failure was caused by fuel starvation rather than a mechanical defect. The forced-landing outcome was then shaped by the ravine in the selected field and the pilot’s attempt to clear it.
- Incident date
- On May 19, 2016, about 1830 central daylight time, a
- Aircraft / registration
- Waco YMF — N56ED
- Investigation status
- NTSB Final Report CEN16LA196