PENSACOLA, FL, USA
N16MA
Valentin TIAFUN 17E
The pilot made a navigational error during a cross-country flight (misidentification of a landmark), which resulted in a low fuel condition. He made a precautionary landing on a paved road in a housing subdivision. During the landing rollout, the airplane collided with a fence post, veered to the right, and nosed down. During the occurrence, the engine assembly separated from the airframe.
On January 12, 1998, about 1630 central standard time, a Valentin Tiafun 17E, N16MA, registered to a private owner crashed on landing rollout during a precautionary landing in the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Pensacola Naval Air Station at an undetermined time. The pilot stated he was on a VFR flight from Clemson, to Winter Haven, Florida. While in cruise flight he realized he was low on fuel and had misidentified the Gulf of Mexico as the Atlantic Ocean. He made a precautionary landing to a road in a housing subdivision. The right wing collided with a fence post and the airplane veered to the right, nosed over, and the engine assembly separated from the airframe.
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to see-and-avoid an obstruction during a precautionary landing on a paved road. Factors relating to the accident were: the resultant low fuel condition, and an obstruction in the precautionary landing area.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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