History of Flight
On February 21, 2017, about 0020 central standard time, an American Aviation AA-1A airplane, registration N6343L, made a forced landing short of runway 36 at Gainesville Municipal Airport (GLE), Gainesville, Texas. The private rated pilot sustained minor injuries, the passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas about 2130.
The responding law enforcement officer reported that the passenger was seated in the right seat. The pilot told the officer that he attempted to assist the passenger in flying the airplane when it began to descend following the loss of engine power.
The airport director reported that the pilot stated, "the engine quit on short final, the wing dropped, and [the pilot] grabbed the yoke and tried to straighten it out..." The airport director also spoke to a pilot-rated first responder who moved the fuel selector from RIGHT to OFF while at the accident site.
The FAA inspector spoke with the pilot, who stated that the passenger had recently purchased the airplane. The passenger, not a certificated pilot, asked the pilot to fly with him on a familiarization flight. They departed DTO and completed about 15 touch-and-go landings at North Texas Regional Airport (GYI), Sherman/Denison, Texas. They then departed GYI for GLE to get additional fuel. Approaching GLE from the north intending to land on runway 18, the pilot saw a coyote on the runway and executed a go-around. During the go-around, the engine lost power. The pilot made a 180° turn back toward the runway to avoid landing on the highway, but the airplane was unable to reach the runway and made a forced landing to a field.
The pilot provided a written statement and spoke with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge. On February 19, 2017, he and the passenger flew the accident airplane from DTO to GLE for dinner; the passenger added fuel, then they returned to DTO. This was the last refueling. On February 20, they departed DTO for GYI before the DTO control tower closed, arriving after it closed. They performed about 8 touch-and-go landings with a break after the fifth. They departed GYI for GLE. About 5 minutes before arriving, the passenger noticed the fuel pressure gauge indicated 0 psi, but the engine operated smoothly. The pilot turned on the electric fuel boost pump, and the pressure returned to 5 psi; the boost pump remained on. During final approach, the pilot executed a go-around due to a coyote. The engine lost power during the climb while 150 to 250 ft above ground level. The passenger recalled the engine lost power while on left crosswind. The pilot turned and attempted to land on runway 36, but the airplane landed in a field about 200 to 300 ft short. After the accident, he saw fuel on the ground.
The passenger's written statement did not mention seeing a coyote, only that the pilot saw one. He reported that first responders discussed fuel on the ground while extracting him. The fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank.
Personnel Information
On July 22, 2015, the passenger was denied an FAA medical certificate for reasons unknown. He reported 16 hours of total flight time.
Aircraft Information
The airplane had two wing spar fuel tanks, each 12 gallons capacity, total 24 gallons. Usable fuel 22 gallons, unusable 1 gallon per tank. The pilot reported 20 gallons at departure from DTO. On February 19, 2017, the airplane was serviced with 12.57 gallons of fuel. The subsequent flight from GLE to DTO was about 15 minutes.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest upright facing east in a field about 150 yards south of runway 36, slightly right of the extended centerline. The initial impact point and debris path oriented northwest. One propeller blade was bent aft near mid span; the other was straight. The right wing separated from the fuselage, folded upside down, and twisted aft. The right-side fuel lines were separated; no fuel observed in the right wing tank. The left wing remained attached. The FAA inspector drained the left fuel tank sump drain, which contained a few tablespoons of dirty liquid. The airplane was recovered; when the left wing was removed, less than one cup of fuel was recovered from the left tank. The right wing tank was completely empty. The right fuel tank quantity indicator's indication ball was not visible; the left indicator was in the same position. No preaccident anomalies were noted during the on-scene examination.
Tests and Research
Using the airplane's pilot operating handbook, climb and cruise performance numbers were extrapolated to estimate fuel consumption. Two calculations were made: one based on the pilot's initial statement of 15 touch-and-go landings (estimated 19 gallons used, leaving less than 1 gallon, none usable); another based on follow-up statements of 9 landings (estimated 14 gallons used, leaving less than 6 gallons, 4 usable). Actual fuel consumption may have been higher than estimated.