Alon ERCOUPE accident near Osceola, Iowa, March 5, 2000
On March 5, 2000 at about 8:06 pm local time, a Alon ERCOUPE, registered N6560Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osceola, Iowa (Osceola airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel starvation due to an undetermined blockage in the fuel line from the header tank to the gascolator. Factors relating to this accident were the blocked fuel line and the rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2000 · about 8:06 pm local time
- Place
- Osceola, Iowa · Osceola · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon ERCOUPE
- Registration
- N6560Q · no longer on the register · serial A60
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported there was about eight gallons of fuel in each of the wing tanks and about five gallons in the header tank. He reported everything appeared normal after he had conducted his preflight and the before takeoff checks. He reported, 'At about 250-300 feet above ground level the engine ceased to make any power.' The pilot was unable to restart the engine. The pilot elected to land in a bean field. The airplane nosed over in the field during landing rollout. Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel line from the header tank to the gascolator was blocked prior to the firewall. The reason for the blockage was undetermined. No other anomalies with the airplane were found.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,973 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,953 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1990; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I75 Osceola IA at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from CNC, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.