# NTSB CEN10CA087: Maule M-4-220C, N2028U, Pearsall, TX, January 2, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 1, 2010, 19:30 local (Jan 2, 2010, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Pearsall, TX
- Coordinates: 28.864721, -99.123054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8647&lon=-99.1231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75225/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75225
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA087

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on a night cross-country flight the pilot experienced problems with the airplane’s global positioning system (GPS) and elected to land to recharge the battery. Once airborne the pilot again experienced problems with the GPS and received vectors to his destination airport. While in the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot was unable to activate the airport’s runway lights or to see the airport beacon. The pilot then selected an alternate airport located 45 miles away; however, while en route the airplane’s fuel supply was exhausted and the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. During the ensuing forced landing the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright in a ditch. The pilot and passengers were able to exit unassisted. A review of flight planning publications for the destination airport revealed that the rotating beacon was listed as out of service and that a frequency other than the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency was needed to activate the runway lights. In addition, Federal Aviation Regulations require a pilot flying at night to have enough fuel to arrive at the intended destination plus an additional 45 minutes worth of fuel.

## Factual narrative

While on a night cross-country flight the pilot experienced problems with the airplane’s global positioning system (GPS) and elected to land to recharge the battery. Once airborne again the pilot once more experienced problems with the GPS and received vectors to his destination airport. While in the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot was unable to activate the airport’s runway lights, nor see the airport beacon. The pilot then selected an alternate airport located 45 miles away; however, while en route the airplane’s fuel supply was exhausted and the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. During the ensuing forced landing the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright in a ditch. The pilot and passengers were able to exit unassisted. A review of flight planning publications for the destination airport revealed that the rotating beacon was listed as out of service and that a frequency other then the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) was needed to activate the runway lights. In addition, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) require a pilot flying at night to have enough fuel to arrive at the intended destination plus an additional 45 minutes worth of fuel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2028U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2028U), registered now, S/N 2016C, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-220C
- Registry model: [Maule M-4-220C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-220c) (registry code 5460114) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2016C
- Airframe hours: 1557
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6V 350 SERIES 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Candlerock International Corp
- Registered owner: Candlerock International Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2009
- Departed: AUS, Austin, TX
- Destination: 20R, Crystal City, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 297 total, 43 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.67 inHg

## 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 20100101025609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100101025609A), Jan 1, 2010: Maule M-4-220C, Pearsall, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he could not find crystal city municipal airport because there were no lights or beacon. Pilot headed to Pearsall airport. Pilot ran aircraft…

## Other investigations on N2028U (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 ANC72DAG81](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG81), Dec 5, 1971: Maule M-4 (N2028U), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75225. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 917 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.

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