Navion NAVION G accident near Eau Claire, Michigan, August 25, 2009
On August 25, 2009 at about 1:25 pm local time, a Navion NAVION G, registered N2418T, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Eau Claire, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2009 · about 1:25 pm local time
- Place
- Eau Claire, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion NAVION G · all NAVION Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2418T · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-2418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed the airport and the fuel selector was in the main fuel tank position. The main fuel tank contained 32.5 gallons of fuel. Approximately 5 minutes after departure, the pilot turned the fuel selector to the right tip fuel tank. After 15 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks and restart the engine, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The pilot then elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and the firewall buckled. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the right tip fuel tank showed "trace amounts of fuel", and the pilot stated he did not check the fuel tank levels prior to departure. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector, "Had I had another 5 gallons [of fuel] in the tip, I would have been okay." Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C20 Berrien Springs MI at 1:00 pm
- Destination: C20 Berrien Springs MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN09CA559.