On July 6, 1997, a Ryan NAVION (registration N91519) operated by James W Macfarlane was involved in an aviation accident near Cross City, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning that resulted in loss of power in flight due to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A witness heard an engine sputtering from an airplane overhead before it collided with a tree and crashed in a cow pasture. The pilot reported a loss of fuel pressure for unknown reasons and noted that verifying fuel quantity before takeoff could have prevented the accident.
Incident Overview
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a witness reported hearing an engine sputtering from an airplane flying overhead. Shortly thereafter, the witness heard the sound of the airplane colliding with a tree. Upon arriving at the accident site, the witness found the wreckage of the airplane in a cow pasture.
Pilot Report
The pilot indicated in his report that there was a loss of fuel pressure for unknown reasons. The pilot also stated that the accident could have been prevented by verifying the fuel quantity prior to takeoff.
Circumstances
The accident occurred during unknown conditions of time of day and weather. No other details about the aircraft, its occupants, or the extent of damage were provided in the initial FAA report.