Christen Industries S-2B accident near Deeherd, Tennessee, September 6, 2005
On September 6, 2005, a Christen Industries S-2B, registered N60770, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deeherd, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots inadequate preflight of the fuel tank resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight, forced landing, and nose over on landing roll out.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2005
- Place
- Deeherd, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries S-2B
- Registration
- N60770 · no longer on the register · serial 5115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he flew the airplane for three flights on September 4, 2005, and refueled the airplane before and after the first flight. He did not refuel the airplane after the third flight. On the day of the accident he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and no anomalies were noted. He did not check or stick the fuel tank to measure the fuel quantity. He departed on a local flight, picked up a friend, and flew around the local area before landing back at Tullahoma. He did not add any fuel before departing Tullahoma back to Sewanee. The pilot stated,"I then departed Tullahoma for Sewanee and ran out of fuel in flight over Woods Reservoir at an altitude of 3000 feet AGL." He made a forced landing to an open field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 347 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,349 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: THA Tullahoma TN at 11:50 pm
- Destination: UOS Sewanee TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.