No fatalities

9 Dec 2009: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114 — STAPLES INVESTMENT GROUP — Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL, United States

On 9 Dec 2009, a ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114 operated by STAPLES INVESTMENT GROUP was involved in an aviation accident near Birmingham, AL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot diverted three times due to worsening weather and windshear, then experienced total engine power loss from fuel exhaustion during a landing approach, resulting in a forced landing and substantial left wing damage.

Flight Plan and En Route Conditions

The pilot planned an instrument-flight-rules flight with an estimated flight time of 1 hour and 33 minutes. During the flight, unanticipated headwinds were encountered along the route. As the pilot neared the destination airport, he learned that weather conditions had deteriorated below minimums for the planned approach.

Diversions and Windshear Encounters

The pilot diverted to a nearby airport. However, the approach there could not be completed due to a windshear encounter. The pilot then diverted to a third airport, expressing concern about the airplane's available fuel. During the first approach at this third airport, the pilot again aborted due to windshear.

Fuel Exhaustion and Forced Landing

During a subsequent approach at the third airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power caused by fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field short of the runway.

Damage

During the forced landing, the airplane's nose landing gear and left main landing gear collapsed upon contact with a ditch. This resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.

Contributing factors

Fluid levelPilot