# NTSB CEN11LA061: Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, N971WA, Fruitvale, TX, November 5, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2010, 21:10 local (Nov 5, 2010, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Fruitvale, TX - Coordinates: 32.684722, -95.783889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6847&lon=-95.7839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 77749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77749/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77749 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA061 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8120412), [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: [Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=8120412), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8120412), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8120412), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was serviced with 14 gallons of fuel (the gauges registered three-quarters full) prior to departure, and the pilot flew to another airport where 20 gallons of fuel were added. The pilot then returned to his home base, where the airplane was serviced with another 24 gallons of fuel. The pilot flew back to the same airport but did not refuel there. While en route back to his home airport at night, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing, during which the airplane collided with a power line and trees. The pilot said that he ran out of fuel and that the airplane burned more fuel than he anticipated. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2010 approximately 2110 central standard time, a Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R, N971WA, registered to and operated by FreddieMac Aviation, LLC, was destroyed during a night forced landing when the airplane struck a power line and trees and impacted terrain after the engine lost power near Fruitvale, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The cross-country flight originated at Denton (DTO), Texas, and was en route to Shreveport (SHV), Louisiana. According to the pilot's accident report, earlier that day the airplane was serviced with 14 gallons of fuel (the gauges registered three-quarters full) and he flew from SHV to DTO. At DTO, 20 gallons of fuel were added and the pilot returned to SHV. The airplane was serviced with 24 gallons of fuel and the pilot returned to DTO to take his business partner home. He did not refuel at DTO. En route back to SHV at 7,500 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot said it was his opinion that he "ran out of fuel." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N971WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N971WA-2012-07-30), registration cancelled 2012-07-30, S/N 380, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R - Registry model: [Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R](https://openairdocs.org/model/siai-marchetti-s-205-22r) (registry code 8120412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 380 - Airframe hours: 2542 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: FreddieMac Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: FreddieMac Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2010, 117 hours before - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Destination: SHV, Shreveport, LA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 336 total, 295 in this make and model, 268 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 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 20101104055239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101104055239A), Nov 4, 2010: Siai-Marche S.205/22R, Fruitvale, TX, Substantial damage. Upon arrival at accident, I noted there was no fuel spillage at the scene. Talked to first responders and they confirmed there was no fuel leakage. After… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77749. 939 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Letter to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Letter%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. N971WA. KMOO photo. (item 4, .PDF, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20N971WA.%20KMOO%20photo.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. N971WA. KMOO photo. (item 5, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20N971WA.%20KMOO%20photo.-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.