# NTSB CEN12LA259: Moody-Siple A, N78RB, Stuttgart, AR, April 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2012, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Stuttgart, AR - Coordinates: 34.593055, -91.571662 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5931&lon=-91.5717&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 83487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83487/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83487 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel monitoring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=0562690), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0562690), [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0562690), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0562690), [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: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0562690), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0562690), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had been flying for 2 hours, practicing maneuvers in preparation for an upcoming biennial flight review, when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Examination of the airplane revealed about 300 feet of power line was wrapped around and trailing behind the right main landing gear. The pilot did not recall impacting anything during the flight. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The trailing power line could have affected the airplane’s performance, increasing both fuel consumption and drag; however, the timing of the wire strike and actual effect could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2012, approximately 1650 central daylight time, a Moody-Siple Model A, N78RB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The cross-country flight had departed Batesville (KBVX), Arkansas, about 1330 and was en route to Searcy (KSRC), Arkansas. The pilot did not submit National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1/2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report, but submitted a written statement instead. According to his statement, he refueled in Batesville, Arkansas, with 32 gallons of fuel and departed about 1330. He flew to an area south of Searcy, Arkansas, and practiced maneuvers to preparation for an upcoming May biennial flight review. Stalls, steep turns, figure eights, slow flight, and simulated emergency landings were performed. The pilot said that when he flies by himself, he normally uses fuel from the left fuel tank first in order to balance the fuel load. After two hours of practicing maneuvers, he switched to the right tank. The fuel gauge registered empty. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The pilot switched back to the left tank and the engine regained power. He flew towards Stuttgart, Arkansas, but within a few minutes, the engine lost power again. He attempted to land on a raised road between two rice fields, but the left landing gear went off the edge of the road and was sheared off. The airplane veered off the road and went into the rice field. The right main and nose landing gears collapsed, punching a hole in the right wing and fuel tank. Approximately 300 feet of power line was found wrapped around the right main landing gear and trailing behind the airplane. There were no reported power outages in the area. The pilot said he did not know he had struck a power line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78RB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78RB), registered now, S/N MS1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOODY-SIPLE A - Registry model: [Moody SIPLE MODEL "A"](https://openairdocs.org/model/moody-siple-model-a) (registry code 0562690) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MS1 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Broadbent E Ray II - Registered owner: Broadbent E Ray II - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KBVX, Batesville, AR - Destination: KSRC, Searcy, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KSGT, 3 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 20120421007859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120421007859A), Apr 21, 2012: Moody SIPLE MODEL "A", Stuttgart, AR, Substantial damage. On April 21, 2012, at approximately 1650 CDT, a Moody siple, model "a", N78RB, registered to [privacy data omitted], was landed in a field near the Stuttgart… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83487. 6.3 MB in all. - Memorandum (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Telephone Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Property Owner's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Property%20Owner%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Prairie County Sheriff's Report (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Prairie%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 6, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Right rear of airplane and dangling power line (item 7, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20rear%20of%20airplane%20and%20dangling%20power%20line-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Nose wheel and entangled power line (item 8, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Nose%20wheel%20and%20entangled%20power%20line-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Rear of airplane (item 9, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Rear%20of%20airplane-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.