NTSB Factual Report

On July 19, 2003, at 1409 eastern daylight time, a Boeing PT-17, N411BT, registered to a private owner, operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 glider tow flight, lost engine power in cruise flight over Hendersonville, North Carolina. The pilot made an approach for an emergency landing to a street and collided with two moving cars with on landing rollout. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot, one passenger, and 4 occupants of private automobiles reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Hendersonville, Airport, Hendersonville, North Carolina, on July 19, 2003, at an undetermined time.

The passenger in the airplane stated after takeoff the pilot climbed the airplane to 5,100 feet and released the glider. They turned back towards Hendersonville and the pilot started some aerobatics over the city. They eventually returned to level flight over the city about 1,000 feet when the engine quit. During the accident sequence the passenger stated he was knocked out.

The pilot stated he was flying at 5,100 feet and released the glider that was in tow. He contacted approach control, cancelled flight following, and descended to 1,000 feet over the city of Hendersonville, North Carolina. He was in cruise flight when the engine quit. He checked the throttle, mixture, propeller rpm, and made a forced landing to a street. On landing rollout the airplane collided with two cars and separated a wing from the airplane. The pilot stated he had conducted 3 or 4 glider tow flights before the accident. When asked when the airplane was last refueled the pilot stated, "the weekend before last or it could of been sometime last week at the Hendersonville Airport." He further stated during the preflight inspection that the fuel tank was half full. When asked if he checked the fuel after the accident the pilot stated no. When asked if he was aware that the police had checked the fuel tank, and no fuel was present, the pilot stated no. He further stated the reason he did not attempt an engine restart when the engine quit was because he knew there was no fuel in the airplane.

According to the Hendersonville Police Department the pilot and passenger were transported to Pardree Hospital. A police officer smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage on the pilot's breath and a blood alcohol test was ordered and administered at 1540, 1 hour and 30 minutes after the accident. The specimens were forwarded to the North Carolina State of Investigation, Raleigh, North Carolina for analysis. The pilot informed the police that he had consumed some beers prior to midnight or 0030 hours. In addition, the pilot stated that he kinda got "wrapped up in the moment" and must have run out of fuel. The guardian of the foreign exchange student passenger stated he went to the hospital to check on the exchange student medical condition. While in the waiting room at the hospital he overheard the accident pilot talking to what he thought were some other pilots. He heard the pilot state, "I think I just ran out of gas."

Initial examination of the airplane by a Hendersonville Police Department Police Officer revealed no visible fuel was present in the fuel tank. A faint smell of fuel was present. The fuel gauge indicated empty and there were no signs of a fuel leak or fuel present on the pavement around the airplane.

A recovery crew obtained by the registered owner removed the airplane to a secure area. The recovery personnel stated the airplane fuel tank held 49 gallons of fuel of which 46 gallons were useable fuel. The recovery crew drained about eight ounces of fuel from the fuel tank.

Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tank located in the upper wing center section was intact including the fuel lines from the fuel tank to the gascolator and carburetor. Eight ounces of additional fuel was drained from the fuel tank. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor was removed at the carburetor. The gascolator was drained and contained about 6 ounces of fuel.

The results of the specimens sent to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation revealed the pilot's alcohol concentration was 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of whole blood. The report was provided to the NTSB and the FAA. The FAA initiated airman certificate action against the pilot.

Review of 14 CFR Part 91.17 Alcohol or drugs states,

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft-

(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;

(2) While under the influence of alcohol;

(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or

(4) While having .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.

Review of the North Carolina Driver License System revealed the pilot was charged and convicted of driving a motor vehicle while impaired in 1998, and received a 30-day revocation of his driver's license. The pilot reported the offense when he updated his medical certificate. No FAA enforcement action was taken.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation of fuel required for the flight, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was pilot impairment due to alcohol consumption.