Event NYC95LA019

Factual narrative

On October 30, 1994, about 1825 eastern standard time, a Lake LA-250, N85JW, owned and piloted by Thomas E. Campbell, was substantially damaged when it struck wires during a forced landing 1 mile west of the Barnes Municipal Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he departed the John C. Tune Airport, Nashville, Tennessee, between 1330 and 1400 EST with 88 gallons of fuel. The direct flight to BAF was conducted under visual flight rules, at an altitude of 11,500 feet. The pilot contacted the BAF control tower approximately 15 miles west of the airport and was cleared to land on runway 20. The pilot further stated: "...During the descent I switched off the heater and at that instant the engine stopped. I turned the heater back on and attempted to restart the engine...no restart, I contacted the tower and declared an emergency. I could not reach the airport and elected to land on the east bound lane of Route 90 (Mass Pike), landing with the flow of traffic...Dropped landing gear and then flaps, at that time the aircraft struck power lines..." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, his on scene investigation revealed no discrepancies in the ignition system, fuel system, engine drive train continuity, engine and propeller controls, and the air intake system. In his report, he also stated: "...There was no evidence of fuel at or near the crash site. No odor of fuel was present at or near the crash site. No fuel was found in either left or right integral wing fuel tanks. No fuel was found in the right sponson tank. Eight ounces of fuel was found in the left sponson tank. Twelve ounces of fuel was found in the center fuselage tank...This is approximately a 6 hour flight [JWN to BAF]...The total usable fuel capacity of this aircraft is 88 gallons. Fuel consumption at 75 percent power is approximately 19 gallons per hour. The cabin heater, which operates using the aircraft fuel, was utilized during the flight..." The flight from JWN to BAF was approximately 750 miles. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the airplane has an estimated true airspeed of approximately 135 knots. A post accident examination and engine run was completed at the Mattituck Airbase, INC, Mattituck, New York. According to another FAA Inspector's Report: "...the fuel line from the fuel pump to the fuel servo was loose. The engine was placed in the test cell, the loose fuel line was tightened approximately five full turns, and the engine was started. The engine was operated at 1200 rpm for 1 minute, power was increased to 1800 rpm for 2 minutes and then run at full power. The engine produced rated power and showed no evidence of any malfunctions..." THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A 750 MILE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT IN HIS AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED TO THEIR CAPACITY OF 88 GALLONS. DURING THE ARRIVAL AND DESCENT AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER. THE PILOT DECIDED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS EXTENDED, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WIRES AND NOSED OVER ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO ODOR OF FUEL AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. EXAMINATION OF THE 5 FUEL TANKS REVEALED ONLY 8 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE LEFT SPONSON TANK AND 12 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE CENTER FUSELAGE TANK. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION WAS COMPLETED AND THE ENGINE PRODUCED RATED POWER AND SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTIONS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12