# NTSB investigations: Wrong fuel

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA314.md): Cessna 421 · Fulton, KY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 21, 2026 · N28RH · Substantial damage
  > The misfuelling of the airplane by the refueler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify that the airplane had been properly fueled prior to departing on the accident flight.
- [NTSB ERA23FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA188.md): Miller Glenn F RV-12 · Climax, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 11, 2023 · N543GM · Destroyed
  > The airplane owner/builder’s inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than that required by the airplane and engine operations manual, which resulted in engine detonation and the degradation and eventual obliteration of the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinder spark plug…
- [NTSB WPR21LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA342.md): Beech 58 · Palo Alto, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2021 · N162DF · Substantial damage
  > The fuelers addition of the incorrect fuel to the fuel tanks which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ANC20LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA050.md): Rockwell 500 · Aniak, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 29, 2020 · N909AK · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to the use of improper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot and ground personnel to ensure that the airplane was serviced with the proper fuel.
- [NTSB ERA17FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA001.md): Culver PQ 14A · Hickory, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 2016 · N4648V · Destroyed
  > The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of automobile gasoline, which increased the likelihood of carburetor icing.
- [NTSB ERA15LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA205.md): Jerome D Fischer RV-7 · Bartow, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2015 · N364SJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's use of the improper fuel grade for the engine, which resulted in detonation, engine damage, and loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN15LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA199.md): Cessna 421B · Diboll, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 17, 2015 · N421PK · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to the use of an improper fuel type. Contributing to the accident were the servicing of the airplane with the improper fuel, noncompliance with an airworthiness directive, and the fuel nozzle installed on the fueling truck.
- [NTSB ANC12CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA082.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Wainwright, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2012 · N74496 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of ground personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to monitor the fueling process.
- [NTSB CEN09LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA145.md): Cessna 421C · Wichita, KS · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 2009 · N345JB · Substantial damage
  > The failure of line personnel to ensure that the airplane was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) which allowed an improper fuel filler…

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '194' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194/sequence

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