# Accident 20150815013839A: Burton Dennis W SONEX, Wolcottville, IN, August 15, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2015, 20:30 local time
- Place: Wolcottville, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5350° N, 85.3753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5350&lon=-85.3753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N683DB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N683DB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Burton Dennis W SONEX (registry code 05621DV, https://openairdocs.org/model/burton-dennis-w-sonex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURTON DENNIS W SONEX
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total, 32 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150815013839A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KENDALLVILLE (C62) ON AUGUST 18, 2015 AROUND 8:00PM WITH 2 OCCUPANTS ON BOARD, 1 PILOT, 1 PASSENGER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS RETURNING TO KENDALLVILLE AFTER FLYING OVER HIS PERSONAL RESIDENCE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FT. AGL. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SOYBEAN FIELD NEAR WOLCOTTVILLE IN. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE TRAPPED ON BOARD. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL (MINOR INJURIES) AND RELEASED THE NEXT DAY. THE PILOT WAS TREATED AND RELEASED AT THE SCENE. AN ON-SITE INVESTIGATION ON 8/17/15 REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES WITH ENGINE OR INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND WITH NO FUEL AVAILABLE AT THE SUMP. THE PILOT CONFIRMED ON-SITE THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA15CA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA234), Aug 16, 2015: Burton Dennis W Sonex (N683DB), Wolcottville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced off-airport landing, and nose over.

## Other reports on N683DB (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20150506006919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150506006919I), May 6, 2015: Burton Dennis W SONEX (N683DB), Kendallville, IN, Minor damage. On 05/06/2015 a pilot operating a sonic, experimental type aircraft made an emergency landing immediately after take off because of a bird strike. Pilot stated…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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