Bellanca 7KCAB N103KW

Summary

On 9 February 2014 at about 20:00 local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB registered N103KW, operated by Aviation Club of Sussex LLC, was involved in an accident near Sussex, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 February 2014 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sussex, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

41.2000, -74.6231

Aircraft

Bellanca 7KCAB

Registration

N103KW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Club of Sussex LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sussex → Sussex

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14CA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he did not verify the quantity of fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks prior to departure. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine began to "sputter," then experienced a total loss of power. After looking at the airplane's fuel gauges, the pilot determined that the airplane had "run out of fuel." The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing to a snow-covered field. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.