Narrative:
The Convair, owned by Air Tahoma, was carrying overnight delivery packages under contract to DHL Worldwide Express. The captain began fuel crossfeed operations about 50 minutes into the flight and allowed it to continue unmonitored for almost 30 minutes. During the crossfeed operations, the fuel tank shutoff valve had been left open. This is contrary to approved procedures and allowed fuel transfer from the left tank to the right tank. During the airplane's descent to
landing, the fuel in the left tank, which was providing fuel to both engines, was exhausted because both engine-driven fuel pumps drew air from the left tank into the fuel system instead of fuel from the right tank, which led to a dual engine flameout caused by fuel starvation. The airplane was approaching runway 36R at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport but did not make it to the runway. The aircraft crashed on the sixth hole at the World of Sports golf course, just south of the airport and broke up.
PROBABLE CAUSE: " The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was fuel starvation resulting from the captains decision not to follow approved fuel crossfeed procedures. Contributing to the accident were the captain's inadequate preflight planning, his subsequent distraction during the flight, and his late initiation of the in-range checklist. Further contributing to the accident was the flight crews failure to monitor the fuel gauges and to recognize that the airplanes changing handling characteristics were caused by a fuel imbalance."
Fuel exhaustion
Loss of control
accident date: 13-08-2004
type: Convair CV-580
registration: N586P
accident date: 13-08-2004
type: Convair CV-580
registration: EC-HMR
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 13 August 2004 |
| Time: | 00:49 |
| Type: |  Convair CV-580 |
| Operator: | Air Tahoma |
| Registration: | N586P |
| MSN: | 68 |
| First flight: | 1953 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 67886 |
| Engines: | 2 Allison 501-D13D |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 1 km (0.6 mls) S of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY (CVG) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM/KMEM), United States of America |
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY (CVG/KCVG), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 185 |
The Convair, owned by Air Tahoma, was carrying overnight delivery packages under contract to DHL Worldwide Express. The captain began fuel crossfeed operations about 50 minutes into the flight and allowed it to continue unmonitored for almost 30 minutes. During the crossfeed operations, the fuel tank shutoff valve had been left open. This is contrary to approved procedures and allowed fuel transfer from the left tank to the right tank. During the airplane's descent to
landing, the fuel in the left tank, which was providing fuel to both engines, was exhausted because both engine-driven fuel pumps drew air from the left tank into the fuel system instead of fuel from the right tank, which led to a dual engine flameout caused by fuel starvation. The airplane was approaching runway 36R at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport but did not make it to the runway. The aircraft crashed on the sixth hole at the World of Sports golf course, just south of the airport and broke up.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: " The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was fuel starvation resulting from the captains decision not to follow approved fuel crossfeed procedures. Contributing to the accident were the captain's inadequate preflight planning, his subsequent distraction during the flight, and his late initiation of the in-range checklist. Further contributing to the accident was the flight crews failure to monitor the fuel gauges and to recognize that the airplanes changing handling characteristics were caused by a fuel imbalance."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Distraction in cockpitFuel exhaustion
Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBFollow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 13-08-2004
type: Convair CV-580
registration: N586P
accident date: 13-08-2004
type: Convair CV-580
registration: EC-HMR
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Memphis International Airport, TN to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY as the crow flies is 644 km (402 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Memphis International Airport, TN to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY as the crow flies is 644 km (402 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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