Weber PELICAN N713DW

Summary

On 26 August 2009 at about 17:25 local time, a Weber PELICAN registered N713DW, operated by Billy V. Sutterfield, was involved in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas, United States. One person was 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

26 August 2009 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Searcy, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Searcy Municipal (SRC)

Coordinates

35.2106, -91.7375

Aircraft

Weber PELICAN

Registration

N713DW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Billy V. Sutterfield

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Searcy → Searcy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA551

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel selector valve.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot took off for a test flight and after climbing approximately 500 feet, and with about 1,000 to 1,500 feet of runway remaining, the engine lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and made a forced landing in a field at the end of the runway. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded a few feet before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination indicated that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position; the pilot thought it was in the "ON" position. The design of the selector handle was such that the "tail" of the selector handle was in the "OFF" position. A 180-degree twist of the handle would have placed it in the "ON" position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.