Culver LCA N32476

Summary

On 4 October 2005 at about 23:08 local time, a Culver LCA registered N32476, operated by Keith Richbourg, was involved in an accident near McGregor, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

4 October 2005 at 23:08

Classification

Accident

Location

McGregor, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.4650, -97.4753

Aircraft

Culver LCA

Registration

N32476

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Keith Richbourg

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → Waco

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06CA002

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 540-hour private pilot reported that approximately 5 to 10 miles short of his destination airport, while still in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, the engine lost power without warnings. The pilot made a forced landing to a field with the main landing gear still retracted. During the landing, the left wing came into contact with a fence post and severed the wing. The vintage airplane was not equipped with fuel gauges and the pilot reported that he did not visually inspect the fuel tanks before takeoff and estimated that he had enough fuel to complete a cross-country flight to a nearby airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the main fuel tank was empty.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.