# Accident 20220915015449A: Yakovlev YAK-55M, Waldo, FL, September 15, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2022, 07:59 local time
- Place: Waldo, FL
- Airport: Keystone Heights
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.8217° N, 82.1255° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8217&lon=-82.1255&mi=10
- Aircraft: N307GS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307GS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Yakovlev YAK-55M (registry code 9830224, https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-55m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: YAKOVLEV YAK-55M
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 220 total, 150 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA420) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220915015449A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THEY CHECKED FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HAD 15 GAL.  PILOT STATED ENGINE START AROUND 7:05AM AND TOOK OFF AT 7:20AM. STATED AIRCRAFT USED 16 GAL/HR, FLIGHT WAS EXPECTED TO BE 30 MINUTES. PILOT STATED RUNUP TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL AND MUST HAVE HAD HEADWIND BECAUSE GROUND SPEED WAS 108KTS INSTEAD OF 125KTS. AT 2700FT 5 MILES FROM DESTINATION FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE WENT DOWN AND ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. PILOT EXECUTED EMERGENCY LANDING IN FARMLAND, LANDED SAFELY BUT AIRCRAFT FLIPPED IN SOFT GRASS. NO POST CRASH FIRE OR FUEL SPILL.

AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN WITH PHOTOCOPY OF AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE THAT HAD BEEN REPORTED LOST. DID NOT HAVE OPERATING LIMITATIONS OR PROGRAM LETTER REQUIRED FOR EXPERIMENTAL/EXHIBITION AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT OPERATED WITH PHOTOCOPY OF REGISTRATION FROM PRIOR OWNER. AIRCRAFT OPERATED 2700FT IN CLASS E AIRSPACE WITHOUT ADS-B.

IN LATER INTERVIEW PILOT STATED THERE WAS LESS THAN 15 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR DEPARTURE.

## 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 ERA22LA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA420), Sep 15, 2022: Yakovlev YAK-55M (N307GS), Waldo, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and the subsequent off-airport landing.

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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