TUNICA, MS, USA
N74232
BELLANCA 14-13
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD FLOWN IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE NAVIGATING USING A GPS UNIT, THE BATTERIES IN THE UNIT FAILED ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE ARRIVAL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT VISUALLY BUT STATED THAT HE DELAYED OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE ON-BOARD VOR TO ESTABLISH HIS POSITION. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES.
On November 23, 1994, about 1830 central standard time, a Bellanca 14-13, N74232, registered to Peter P. Kosloski, crashed in a parking lot of a casino near Tunica, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Moore-Murrell Airport, Morristown, Tennessee, about 1430. The pilot stated that he had flown this trip several times and he did not on this flight perform fuel consumption calculations. He also stated that he was navigating using a global positioning system (GPS) unit and about 10 minutes before arrival at his planned destination airport, the batteries in the GPS unit failed. He continued the flight looking for the airport and stated that he delayed obtaining assistance from air traffic control and did not attempt to use the VOR navigation system in his airplane to determine his position. He located a place to perform a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion and after touchdown during the landing roll, the airplane collided with trees then came to rest. The last Biennial Flight Review was accomplished on February 22, 1992.
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN OBTAINING ATC ASSISTANCE AFTER BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO NAVIGATE USING THE VOR SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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