Semple SMYTH SIDEWINDER N86S

Summary

On 8 January 1996 at about 22:57 local time, a Semple SMYTH SIDEWINDER registered N86S was involved in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 January 1996 at 22:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

35.5108, -97.7607

Aircraft

Semple SMYTH SIDEWINDER

Registration

N86S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Tulsa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96FA085

1 person died.

The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power, and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while coping with the emergency, which resulted in and inadvertent stall and subsequent spin. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's lack of experience in type of airplane, and habit interference with respect to use of the fuel selector.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was planning to return to his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and the seller flew the airplane on an 'orientation ride' for 'approximately 10 minutes' before the pilot departed. According to the seller, the pilot had considerable experience in a similar airplane, but the fuel selector handles in the two airplanes were configured in an opposite manner. The accident airplane was observed to depart from runway 17 and turn east. At approximately a quarter of a mile from the airpark and at approximately 500 feet AGL, the engine began to 'sputter.' About 8 seconds later, the engine 'quit.' The airplane continued east and was observed to make a gentle bank to the right and then to the left, but 'the nose was never lowered to establish a glide.' The airplane was observed to stall and spin to the left, rotating about 2 turns before impacting the ground. Postimpact examination of the fuel selector handle and valve revealed they were in the 'off' position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.