11 Jun 2013: YOUNGS WILLIAM D T211 — SMITH JAMES E

11 Jun 2013: YOUNGS WILLIAM D T211 (N211BY) — SMITH JAMES E

No fatalities • Festus, MO, United States

Probable cause

Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

On June 10, 2013, about 2100 central daylight time, an amateur built William D. Youngs T211, N211BY, collided with trees and the terrain following a loss of engine power in Festus, Missouri. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The airplane, which was registered to and operated by the pilot, received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Festus Memorial Airport (FES), Festus, Missouri, about 1900.

According to local authorities, while descending to land at FES, the pilot called his wife via cell phone. He told her they had run out of fuel and were going to crash. The airplane contacted a treeline that contained 30 to 40 foot tall trees. The airplane then descended into a field contacting the terrain about 25 feet from the treeline. After the impact, the pilot contacted his wife once again stating they had crashed and that he did not know their location. The pilot's wife contacted 911 and the airplane was subsequently located in the field about 2 ½ miles south of FES.

A postaccident examination of the airplane, by the Federal Aviation Administration, showed there was no evidence of fuel in the airplane or on the ground surrounding the airplane.

Contributing factors

  • cause Fluid level
  • cause Pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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