# NTSB CEN09LA345: Curtiss Moses Aerolite, N43598, Los Lunas, NM, June 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2009, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Los Lunas, NM - Coordinates: 34.810508, -106.730834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8105&lon=-106.7308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Rotax Engine Company, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73993 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73993/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73993 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA345 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05619O6), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05619O6), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05619O6), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05619O6), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619O6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was flying his airplane near the home of one of his relatives. The engine "stalled" as he passed over the residence and he decided to land on a gravel road, but changed the intended landing area to an open field. While approaching the field for a landing, the airplane collided with a hidden obstruction. An examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The fuel selector was found selected to an empty fuel tank, while the other fuel tank contained approximately 2.5 gallons of fuel. Under supervision by the FAA, the engine was started and ran normally under various power settings. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2009, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a home-built Aerolite 103, N43598, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Los Lunas, New Mexico. The sport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a statement provided by the pilot, he was flying his airplane near the home of one of his relatives. The engine "stalled" as he passed over the residence and he decided to land on a nearby gravel road. However, during the attempt, the pilot decided that he could not land safely on the road, so he made a "sharp right turn" and descended towards an open field. During the landing, he collided with an obstruction that was later described as a brown metal pipe that was approximately 3 to 4 feet high. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident scene and established flight control continuity to all control surfaces. The airplane was equipped with two 5-gallon "red gas containers" utilized as fuel tanks. One tank contained approximately 2.5 gallons of fuel, while the other tank was empty. The fuel selector was discovered selecting the empty tank. The engine was removed from the airplane and mounted on a stand. Under supervision of the FAA, the engine was run successfully under various power settings. An inspection of the airframe and other airplane systems failed to reveal any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43598](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43598-2010-04-16), registration cancelled 2010-04-16, S/N A-AWI-012502-115-R447, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss Moses Aerolite (103) - Registry model: [Moses Curtiss W AEROLITE 103](https://openairdocs.org/model/moses-curtiss-w-aerolite-103) (registry code 05619O6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Serial number: AAWI012502115R44 - Airframe hours: 427 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2009 - Departed: E58, Los Lunas, NM - Destination: Los Lunas, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; flight hours: 571 total, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 18 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090609007869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090609007869A), Jun 9, 2009: Mosesc AEROLITE103, Destroyed. (-23) On June 6, 2009, at about 0830 local time, N43598, a moses curtiss w. model aerolite 103 airplane was severely damaged when it collided with a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73993. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence: Statement from FAA inspector (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20Statement%20from%20FAA%20inspector-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.