Interstate S-1A-90F accident near Lancaster, Kansas, April 24, 2005
On April 24, 2005 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Interstate S-1A-90F, registered N37395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Kansas (Amelia Earhart airport). 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 exhaustion as a result of a fuel leak. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight/planning preparation and the unsuitable terrain encountered, the tree and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2005 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Kansas · Amelia Earhart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Interstate S-1A-90F · all S-1A-90Fs on the register
- Registration
- N37395 · registry record · serial 238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a tree limb and fence during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine lost power about 8 minutes after takeoff during cruise flight. He executed a forced landing on a road, subsequently impacting an overhanging tree limb and a barbed wire fence. Approximately 2 ounces of fuel were obtained from the fuel tank during the post-accident inspection. The fuel filler cap was removed and no fuel was observed in the tank. Fuel was subsequently added to the airplane. The engine was started and ran at full throttle and various intermediate power settings. A magneto check was performed and was normal. After the engine ran the fuel tank sump drain was observed to be dripping fuel at an estimated rate of 1 quart per hour. The drain valve was reseated and the dripping stopped.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,762 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,962 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2004; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4AC-199-E2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Horton KS at 3:35 pm
- Destination: K59 Atchison KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI05CA108.