BISMARCK, ND, USA
N131DS
Summers RV4
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing. The pilot reported that a loss of engine power occurred after he was cleared to land. He reported he was too far from the runway, so he selected a gravel road on which to make the forced landing. The gravel road dead-ended at an intersection with a paved road. The airplane traveled off the end of the gravel road, crossed the paved road, and contacted a drainage ditch where it nosed over. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was a result of fuel exhaustion and the accident could have been prevented had he landed earlier for fuel.
On August 6, 2000, at 1720 central daylight time, a Summers RV4, N131DS, nosed over during a forced landing three miles east of the Bismarck Municipal Airport, Bismarck, North Dakota. The private pilot reported the forced landing was a result of a total loss of engine power. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The cross-country flight originated from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, exact time unknown. The pilot reported he departed Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with 32 gallons of fuel on board. He stated he arrived in the Bismarck area and was cleared to land on runway 31. He reported the engine lost power and he was too far from the airport to make it to the runway. He selected a gravel road on which to make the forced landing. The gravel road dead-ended at an intersection with a paved road. The airplane traveled off the end of the gravel road, crossed the paved road, and contacted a drainage ditch where it nosed over. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was a result of fuel exhaustion. The pilot completed a NTSB Form 6120.1/2. The pilot reported on the form that landing earlier for fuel could have prevented the accident.
Inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the drainage ditch that the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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