N3380G Lockheed 402-2 accident

NTSB SEA03LA127 · 2003-07-04 · Headquarters, ID

Summary

With no refueler at departure airport, the pilot felt he had enough fuel to make it to his destination. En route he realized he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination and chose to return to the departure airport. Encountering a 25 knot headwind and realizing he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing at an old logging staging area/road. While attempting to land on the unused emergency strip, the aircraft encountered a downdraft and struck trees at the end of the runway. Both wings, the rudder, elevator, and both horizontal and vertical stabilizers sustained substantial damage.

Full narrative

On July 4, 2003, approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Lockheed 402-2 single-engine airplane, N3380G, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while performing a precautionary landing near Headquarters, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and his two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Orofino, Municipal Airport, Orofino, Idaho, at 1135, and was destined for the Missoula International Airport, Missoula, Montana.

In a statement provided to an FAA inspector, and as reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot related that "obtaining gas at Orofino is difficult to impossible." The pilot reported there wasn't any fueler available, so he took off believing he had enough fuel for the trip. The pilot further stated that when he realized he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination, he chose to return to Orofino. En route back to Orofino the pilot encountered a 25 knot headwind. The pilot stated that now realizing he would not have enough fuel to reach Orofino, he elected to make a precautionary landing at an old logging staging area/road. The pilot related, "While attempting a landing on an unused emergency strip, I encountered a downdraft and struck trees at the end of the runway. When I realized I would not make it, I aimed between the trees where there was a small gap. The emergency landing was precautionary."

The FAA inspector reported substantial damage to both wings, the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, the rudder and the elevator.

Probable cause

The pilot's improper preflight planning and improper fuel consumption calculations. Factors contributing to the accident included the unfavorable wind condition, the downdraft, and the trees. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: Minor
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 10
Wind direction: 0
Wind speed (kt): 5
Temperature (F): 79
Distance from field: 0.0

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N3380G	Lockheed	402-2	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	220	Cruise

Findings

Finding
20000	factor
20000	factor
20200	factor
24001	cause
24012	cause
24546