Socata RALLYE 235E N301RA

Summary

On 18 July 1998 at about 19:30 local time, a Socata RALLYE 235E registered N301RA, operated by Thomas McIntyre, was involved in an accident near Kalispell, Montana, 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

18 July 1998 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalispell, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.1896, -114.3798

Aircraft

Socata RALLYE 235E

Registration

N301RA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas McIntyre

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalispell → Flathead River

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA142

Nobody was injured.

The pilot-in-command's improper fuel management, resulting in fuel starvation. Related factors were insufficient altitude available for effective remedial action, and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was a 'powder bombing' mission being conducted at a local fly-in. The pilot reported that in order to give his passenger, the 'bombardier', a closer view of the target (on a private airstrip along a river), he initiated an extended 30-degree bank right turn at approximately 500 feet above some trees in the area. He reported that at this time, the left wing tank was empty, the right wing tank contained 14 gallons of fuel, and the fuel selector was on right tank. He stated that 'fuel drained away from [the fuel] pump, [and the] engine died due to lack of fuel.' He stated he tried banking the plane left to restart the engine, but could not get it to restart. He then performed a forced landing in the river after deciding he would not be able to clear the trees to make the airstrip. The airplane's fuel selector was found set to right tank in post-accident examination, and no fuel was found in the line from the engine-driven fuel pump to the carburetor. After the engine was flushed and the magnetos dried, the engine was successfully test-run. Each of the airplane's two separated wing tanks has a 37-gallon capacity, with 35.66 gallons usable.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.