On May 28, 1983, a Ryan-navion NAV 4 (registration N4468K) was involved in an aviation accident near Cottage Grove, OR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced an engine failure at 500 feet during takeoff climb, resulting in a forced landing in a hay field. Post-accident examination revealed minimal fuel in the system.
Accident Overview
The aircraft was on a takeoff climb when the engine ceased operation at 500 feet above ground level. The pilot executed a forced landing in a hay field, during which the landing gear collapsed.
Fuel System Examination
An on-scene investigation found no visible fuel in the right wing tank. The left wing tank lacks a filler access but is connected to the right tank via a 2-inch connecting hose. A half-gallon header tank is positioned between the two tanks. No fuel was present in the wing tip tanks. The fuel selector was set to the main tanks position.
Post-Accident Findings
No fuel was detected in the fuel lines leading to the carburetor. Approximately 1 ounce of fuel was found in the carburetor itself. Personnel who removed the aircraft reported recovering a total of about 4 gallons of fuel from the entire fuel system.