FTW00LA272

Factual narrative

On September 30, 2000, at 1615 central daylight time, a Porterfield LP65, single-engine airplane, N25563, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Corsicana, Texas. The pilot, who was the registered owner and sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, for which no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Saginaw Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, at 1240, and was destined for the Corsicana Municipal Airport, Corsicana, Texas, with an intermediate fuel stop at Aero-Estates Airport, Lake Palestine, Texas. According to the pilot, he departed Saginaw Airport with the fuel tanks full (13.5 gallons). The direct flight from Saginaw Airport to Aero-Estates Airport was 1 hour and 40 minutes. Upon arrival the pilot found no fuel services available. Approximately 1530, with the cockpit fuel quantity indicator indicating 5-6 gallons of fuel remaining, the pilot departed the Aero-Estates Airport. The pilot calculated, utilizing a hand held GPS, the time en route to Corsicana Municipal Airport to be approximately 58 minutes. Approximately 4 miles from the Corsicana Municipal Airport, the fuel quantity indicator was "very close to empty." Four witnesses, who were monitoring the common traffic advisory frequency at the Corsicana Municipal Airport, reported that the pilot stated that he was "running out of fuel" and he was going to try and land. The pilot reported that the airplane was approximately three miles from Corsicana when the "engine just quit." Subsequently, the airplane landed in a field, the left wing struck tree stumps, and the airplane came to rest upright. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, stated that both wings were structurally damaged. The pilot planned a cross-country flight originating from Fort Worth, Texas, and terminating at Corsicana, Texas, with an intermediate fuel stop at Lake Palestine, Texas. Upon arrival at the airport in Lake Palestine the pilot found that there were no fuel services available. The pilot calculated that it would take 58 minutes to continue the flight to the final destination; and with the cockpit fuel gauge indicating between 5 and 6 gallons of fuel remaining, he departed for Corsicana. The pilot reported that he was four miles from the Corsicana Airport when he realized the fuel gauge was 'very close to empty,' and subsequently, the 'engine just quit.' A forced landing was executed to a field where the airplane's left wing struck tree stumps. Four witnesses who were monitoring the common traffic advisory frequency at the Corsicana Airport reported that the pilot stated that he was 'running out of fuel' and attempting to land. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12