Dempsey SKYBOLT TD8 N350TD

Summary

On 11 September 1998 at about 23:55 local time, a Dempsey SKYBOLT TD8 registered N350TD was involved in an accident near Dundee, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were 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 September 1998 at 23:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Dundee, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.8102, -98.6791

Aircraft

Dempsey SKYBOLT TD8

Registration

N350TD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Snyder → Wichita Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA396

2 people were seriously injured.

Hard landing due to the pilot's improper landing flare. Factor were the fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel, and his lack of familiarity with the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a cross-country flight, about 1 hour 20 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot reported that 'an attempt to flare for landing resulted in loss of airspeed rather quickly and the aircraft dropped from a near stall condition hitting the ground flat and hard.' Examination of the fuel system revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tank. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of fuel spillage. The pilot rated passenger had just purchased the homebuilt Skybolt TD8 experimental airplane, and it was being flown to Ohio. The airplane's fuel tank was topped off prior to departure. The planned time en route was 1 hour 30 minutes. The builder of the airplane reported that the capacity of the airplane's fuel tank was 29 gallons; however, the airplane's fuel tank capacity was measured at 22 gallons. According to the builder, the average fuel consumption for this airplane is 20 gallons per hour. The commercial pilot reported to the NTSB that this accident could have been prevented by a 'more thorough examination and verification of all phases of aircraft. Actual fuel capacity - consumption - etc. Don't make assumptions of the other persons work.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.