What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 14, 2005, N226PS, a Sukhoi experimental acrobatic aircraft experienced engine problems while practicing landings at Marana airport. The pilot executed an emergency landing and came to rest inverted in a field just off the airport causing substantial damage. Subsequent investigation revealed that the aircraft was depleted of fuel and the engine would run normal when fuel was added. The pilot stated that he should have had enough fuel to make it to the airport when the engine quit. The aircraft does not have a fuel gauge, however, the pilot stated that the tank was full prior to takeoff for a local acrobatic flight.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 14, 2005, N226PS, A SUKHOI EXPERIMENTAL ACROBATIC AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE PRACTICING LANDINGS AT MARANA AIRPORT. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A FIELD JUST OFF THE AIRPORT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPLETED OF FUEL AND THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL WHEN FUEL WAS ADDED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE A FUEL GAUGE, HOWEVER, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FOR A LOCAL ACROBATIC FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.