FTW00LA025

Factual narrative

On November 3, 1999, at 0730 central standard time, a Streifthau Baby Great Lakes experimental amateur-built airplane, N415, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near the Wichita Valley Airport, Iowa Park, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot, who sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Wichita Valley Airport at 0720. The pilot reported during a telephone interview that he had recently purchased the airplane, and the previous owner had informed him that the airplane required fuel before its next flight. He reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that he was performing high-speed taxi tests and simulated takeoffs, when the airplane started to veer toward the edge of the taxiway. He elected to take off and fly one traffic pattern. He realized during the approach to land that the airplane's airspeed was too fast, and he initiated a go-around. The pilot pitched the airplane nose up and applied full power, simultaneously the engine "began to sputter" and subsequently, lost total power. The airplane contacted the ground and came to rest upright, 0.5 miles northeast of the departure end of runway 22. The pilot reported that he did not check the quantity of fuel prior to the flight. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, the engine firewall was displaced and the engine mounts were damaged. The wings, including the wing spars, were structurally damaged. He estimated that there was "one cup of fuel in the fuselage mounted fuel tank." In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), in the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot stated the following: Fuel aircraft before taxi testing. Note: Extensive personal injury prevented by the use of a 4-point harness and full face motorcycle helmet. During a go-around, the airplane's engine lost power as a result of fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane, and the previous owner had informed him that the airplane required fuel before its next flight. The pilot was performing high-speed taxi tests and simulated takeoffs on a taxiway when the airplane began to veer toward the edge of the taxiway. The pilot elected to take off and fly one traffic pattern. While on approach to the runway, he realized the airplane's airspeed was high, and he initiated a go-around. As the airplane reached a nose-up attitude, the engine 'sputtered' and lost total power. A forced landing was executed and the airplane impacted the ground. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and reported that there was 'one cup of fuel in the fuselage mounted fuel tank.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12