Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and inadequate in-flight planning when encountering a headwind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed on a local flight with full fuel. On return, the pilot encountered stronger than expected winds aloft, and the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot executed a forced landing and while rolling to a stop, the airplane collided with a fence and was substantially damaged.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 29, 1994, about 1345 eastern daylight time, N692KA, a homebuilt Sabre II crashed in Merritt Island, Florida, after experiencing an engine failure in flight, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The instructor pilot and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated at Titusville, Florida, at an unknown time. The instructor pilot stated to the local law enforcement and the NTSB that they had encountered headwinds and ran out of fuel. The engine failed and they executed a forced landing to a field and hit a chain link fence and a tree. -