Bellanca 17-30A N404CT

Summary

On 12 March 2007 at about 09:59 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N404CT, operated by Kenneth Howard, was involved in an accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States. 4 people were 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

12 March 2007 at 09:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Monmouth Executive (BLM)

Coordinates

40.1869, -74.1247

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30A

Registration

N404CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth Howard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic City → Farmingdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC07CA076

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to verify the amount of fuel onboard before takeoff. Factors in the accident were the airplane being under fueled, the refueler's experience, the airplane's inoperative fuel gauges, unsuitable terrain for landing, and night lighting conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot asked the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP) to take the controls while the pilot/owner attempted an unsuccessful engine restart. The ATP executed a forced landing to uneven terrain, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an absence of fuel, even though 40 gallons were ordered, and paid for by the pilot/owner at the last refueling stop, about 45 nautical miles away. At the refueling stop, the pilot/owner asked a passenger to show the refueler the location of the fuel caps. The refueler only had experience pumping jet fuel to single point aircraft. Per the refueler's request, the passenger advised him when 40 gallons was pumped. The refueling took place in a dark area, and the light for the fuel truck meter was inoperative. The passenger misread the meter, and instead of receiving 40 gallons of fuel, the airplane received 4 gallons. The mistake was noted by another FBO employee after the airplane had departed, but he was unable to contact the pilot/owner. The airplane's fuel gauges were inoperative, and indicated half full, even when empty. Neither pilot visually confirmed the amount of fuel onboard prior to takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.