ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 358379
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| Date: | Wednesday 23 August 1995 |
| Time: | 12:17 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna 320 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N5720X |
| MSN: | 320-0020 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1961 |
| Engine model: | CONTINENTAL TSIO-470-B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gunnison, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Banning, CA (KBNG) |
| (KGUC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE AIRPLANE WAS SERVICED TO CAPACITY (130 GALLONS) ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THE PILOT FLEW APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES DOING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. HE DEPARTED BANNING, CALIFORNIA, AT 0600 PDT, EN ROUTE TO BUENA VISTA, COLORADO. UNFAVORABLE WEATHER FORCED THE PILOT TO APPROACH ALAMOSA, COLORADO, FROM THE SOUTHWEST, AND HE TURNED UP THE WRONG VALLEY. INSTEAD OF HEADING TOWARDS BUENA VISTA, HE WAS HEADING TOWARDS GUNNISON, COLORADO. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO GUNNISON. DURING THE DESCENT, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON U.S. 50, BUT HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE FIRST CALL THAT AN AIRPLANE WAS DOWN AT 1217 MDT. THEY REPORTED FINDING LITTLE EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. FLIGHT DURATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS, 17 MINUTES. THE PILOT SAID THE FUEL FLOW GAUGES INDICATED 16 GALLONS PER HOUR IN CRUISE FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY, FUEL CONSUMPTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 25 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS FUEL GUAGES SHOWED 15 GALLONS IN EACH MAIN TANK WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED.
Probable Cause: FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISORIENTATION.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW95LA372
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Mar-2024 12:52 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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