NTSB Factual Report

On May 28, 2018, at 1210 central daylight time, a Fairchild (Howard) M-62C (PT-23A) airplane, N64176, collided with a pole and a fence during a forced landing while on approach to land at the Westport Airport (71K), Wichita, Kansas. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from 71K about 0930.

The pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to fly over several cemeteries in observance of Memorial Day. He performed fly-overs at five cemeteries which required flying holding orbits at three of the cemeteries and two passes at the other two cemeteries. He then flew back toward 71K to land. He stated that when he was about five minutes from 71K, he switched fuel tanks to what appeared to be the fullest tank. He reported that both fuel tanks were low, but the fuel quantity indicators were showing above "E." While on final approach at an altitude of 150 to 200 ft above the ground, the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks, started using the wobble (manual) pump, and the engine regained power for a second or two before losing power once again. The engine regained power once again and the pilot continued using the wobble pump until committed to an off-airport landing in a storage facility lot about 1/8 mile from the end of the runway. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and the right wing contacted a metal pole. The airplane then contacted a chain-link fence and a utility pole before coming to rest.

The pilot stated that he checked the fuel gauges before the flight and they were indicating the fuel tanks were full which is how he left the airplane five days before the accident flight. The pilot calculated he should have had about 3 hours and 15 minutes of fuel on board. The pilot used Foreflight to track his flight which indicated a flight time of 2 hours and 41 minutes. The Hobbs time indicated 2.9 hours.

A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector. The inspector reported there was no fuel spill at the accident site and the fuel selector was positioned on the right fuel tank. He drained about ½ cup of fuel out of each of the fuel tanks and about a teaspoon of fuel out of the engine strainer bowl. The inspector reported the fuel gauges are on the wings and are difficult to see inflight.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s miscalculation of the fuel consumption rate during preflight planning.