ALAMOSA, CO, USA
N36998
CESSNA 404
THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE LINEMAN TO SERVICE THE AIRPLANE WITH 50 GALLONS OF 100-LL AVIATION GASOLINE. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS REFUELED, THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL SUMPS AND NOTED A CLEAR, BLUE-COLORED FUEL THAT 'SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE.' SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE THEN MADE AN INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP FORCED LANDING. BOTH THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR AND THE LINEMAN STATED THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN INADVERTENTLY SERVICED WITH JET-A FUEL. THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL TRUCK THAT SERVICED THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A JET FUEL NOZZLE, BUT UTILIZED A STRAIGHT TIP NOZZLE INSTEAD.
On June 26, 1995, approximately 1855 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 404, N36998, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Alamosa, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report and a telephone interview with the pilot. The pilot instructed the lineman to service his airplane with 50 gallons of 100-LL aviation gasoline (25 gallons in each wing tank). After the airplane was refueled, the pilot drained the fuel tank sumps and noted a clear, blue-colored fuel that "smelled like gasoline." The pilot took off on runway 02 and after climbing 400 feet, both engines began losing power. The pilot turned around in an attempt to return to the airport, but was forced to make an intentional wheels-up landing on terrain 200 yards short of the runway. The pilot said both the fixed base operator and the lineman admitted inadvertently servicing the airplane with Jet-A fuel. The pilot said the fuel truck was not equipped with a jet fuel nozzle, but utilized a straight tip nozzle instead. The fixed base operator was contacted and he confirmed that his employee had inadvertently serviced the airplane with Jet-A fuel.
FBO PERSONNEL IMPROPERLY SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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