ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114
Birmingham, AL — December 9, 2009
Event Information
| Date | December 9, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA10CA093 |
| Event ID | 20091209X22636 |
| Location | Birmingham, AL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.56389, -86.75222 |
| Airport | Birmingham International |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL |
| Model | 114 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | NITE |
| Weather | IMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that he was conducting an instrument-flight-rules flight with an estimated flight time of 1 hour and 33 minutes. He encountered unanticipated headwinds along the route of flight, and as he neared his destination airport he learned that weather conditions had deteriorated below minimums. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport, but was unable to complete the approach due to a windshear encounter. He then diverted to a third airport and reported that he was concerned about the airplane's available fuel. The pilot again aborted his first approach due to a windshear encounter and during a subsequent approach the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field prior to the runway. The airplane's nose and left main landing gears collapsed upon contact with a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.