# NTSB CEN11CA551: Quicksilver Sprint II, N403BP, Douglas, KS, August 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2011, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Douglas, KS - Coordinates: 37.471111, -97.01361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4711&lon=-97.0136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA551 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA551 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059008M), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while conducting a local flight, the airplane's engine began to lose power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane began to descend. The pilot initially chose a field in which to land, but a barbed wire fence obstructed the selected landing area. The pilot then attempted to land past the barbed wire fence; however, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. An examination of the airplane revealed a lack of fuel throughout the fuel system. After adding fuel to the airplane's fuel tanks, the engine operated normally. ## Factual narrative When on a local flight, the airplane's engine began to lose engine power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane began to descend. The pilot initially chose a forced landing area in a field, but a barbed wire fence obstructed the selected landing area. The pilot then attempted to land past the barbed wire fence; however, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. An examination of the airplane revealed a lack of fuel throughout the fuel system. After adding fuel to the airplane's fuel tanks, the engine operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N403BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N403BP-2015-03-02), registration cancelled 2015-03-02, S/N 0662, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER SPRINT II - Registry model: [Quicksilver SPRINT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-sprint-ii) (registry code 059008M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0662 - Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Patterson Kenneth M - Registered owner: Patterson Kenneth M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: SN52, Douglass, KS - Destination: SN52, Douglass, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KIAB, 15 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 20110806018809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110806018809A), Aug 6, 2011: Quicksilver SPRINT II, Douglass, KS, Substantial damage. On 08/06/2011 at 15:59 local time aircraft N403BP lost power and made an emergency landing in a crop field approximately 3 miles southwest of Douglass, KS. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81416. 44 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 not obtained (item 1, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20not%20obtained-Master.PDF - Correspondence with FAA inspectors (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20inspectors-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.