Christen S-2B N60770

Summary

On 6 September 2005 at about 00:04 local time, a Christen S-2B registered N60770, operated by Thomas E. Hartigvsen, was involved in an accident near Deeherd, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2005 at 00:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Deeherd, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.3800, -86.2461

Aircraft

Christen S-2B

Registration

N60770

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas E. Hartigvsen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tullahoma → Sewanee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05CA158

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilots inadequate preflight of the fuel tank resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight, forced landing, and nose over on landing roll out.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he flew the airplane for three flights on September 4, 2005, and refueled the airplane before and after the first flight. He did not refuel the airplane after the third flight. On the day of the accident he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and no anomalies were noted. He did not check or stick the fuel tank to measure the fuel quantity. He departed on a local flight, picked up a friend, and flew around the local area before landing back at Tullahoma. He did not add any fuel before departing Tullahoma back to Sewanee. The pilot stated,"I then departed Tullahoma for Sewanee and ran out of fuel in flight over Woods Reservoir at an altitude of 3000 feet AGL." He made a forced landing to an open field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.