Incident Overview
On June 6, 1987, a Rockwell Commander 112, registered as N1153J, was on a photography flight near Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. The pilot had been cleared to land on runway 16L when air traffic control changed the runway assignment to 16R. Upon adding power to adjust for the new approach, the engine stopped running. The pilot then attempted a forced landing, directing the aircraft toward the off-ramp of Interstate Highway 820. The aircraft impacted rough, uneven terrain adjacent to the highway and sustained substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers aboard were not injured.
Flight Details
During the landing sequence, the pilot selected the fuel tank selector to the right fuel tank. After the accident, an inspection of the aircraft revealed no fuel in the engine. The right wing tank contained less than one quart of fuel, while the left wing tank held approximately 17 gallons of fuel.
Fuel Inspection
The post-accident examination found that the right fuel tank had insufficient fuel for engine operation, while the left tank still contained a significant quantity. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank at the time of the engine failure. No other mechanical anomalies were reported.