Curtiss-Wright P-40E N940AK

Summary

On 11 May 1995 at about 23:40 local time, a Curtiss-Wright P-40E registered N940AK was involved in an accident near Phelps, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 May 1995 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Phelps, New York, United States

Coordinates

42.9507, -77.0605

Aircraft

Curtiss-Wright P-40E

Registration

N940AK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fulton → Geneseo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO95LA052

1 person was seriously injured.

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor related to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, ENGINE RUN-UP, TAKEOFF AND CLIMBOUT WERE NORMAL. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, AT 1,600 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO 'BACKFIRE VIOLENTLY TWICE,' THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO GLIDE TO A MORE SUITABLE LANDING AREA; THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED CORNFIELD. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR NOR IN THE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE. THE FUEL LINES WERE COMPROMISED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND ELECTRIC DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WERE REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AND FUNCTIONED SATISFACTORILY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN IN STORAGE ALL WINTER, AND HAD JUST COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.