Owens/Smyth SIDEWINDER N177TJ

Summary

On 16 June 1996 at about 23:15 local time, a Owens/Smyth SIDEWINDER registered N177TJ was involved in an accident near Minden, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 1996 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

32.6090, -93.2798

Aircraft

Owens/Smyth SIDEWINDER

Registration

N177TJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Memphis → Shreveport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA257

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During flight, at about 2,500 feet, the engine lost power. A forced landing was made to a field with small saplings and bushes, and the airplane came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot reported that he departed Memphis with 17 gallons of fuel on board. The FAA inspector on the scene of the accident reported that he drained 3 tablespoons of fuel from the fuel tank. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation, 'When calibrating fuel capacity and markings for [the] fuel gauge, fuel should have been drained to see how the fuel gauge indicated as fuel was being used.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.