Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately monitor his fuel quantity during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, the accident flight was the second flight of the day towing banners in his bi-plane. On the return leg, the engine lost all power and the pilot landed along a pipeline and impacted a post, which resulted in substantial damage to the upper and lower right wing. The pilot informed a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he may have run out of gas. The inspector drained about 1 quart of fuel from the gascolator and "less than a tablespoon" from the sump drains. There was no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks. The tanks were not breached and the fuel lines appeared to be intact with no evidence of fuel leaks.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA303 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 22, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Jacksonville, Arkansas
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Stearman N2S 3
- N-number
- N2158P
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1942
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Banner tow
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.