BLISSFIELD, MI, USA
N40349
Wicks FLY BABY
During the initial climb the engine suffered a loss of power. Post accident inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any smell of fuel on or around the wreckage. There was no fuel spill on the ground. Only unusable fuel was found in the tank. No other mechanical anomalies were found during the post accident examination.
On July 2, 1998, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Wicks Fly Baby, N40349, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage when it impacted the terrain, during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during takeoff from runway 27 (2,585' X 100') at the Betz Airport, Blissfield, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. During the forced landing the airplane nosed over. Initial emergency response personnel indicated no smell of fuel in or around the wreckage. There was no evidence of a fuel spill on the ground. When the airplane was righted only unusable fuel was found in the tank. No other mechanical anomalies were found during the post accident examination.
the pilot's misjudging of the fuel supply and his inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was fuel exhaustion,
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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