- Date
- May 28, 2014, 20:27 local (May 29, 2014, 01:27 UTC)
- Place
- Wagoner, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- UNREGUnknown Buccaneer SX
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report August 14, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration; Will Rogers FSDO
- Case key
- 89363
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power during takeoff. Contributing was the pilot's inadequate fuel management that led to fuel starvation/exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
On May 28, 2014, at 2027 central standard time, an unregistered experimental amateur-built Buccaneer SX, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power and aerodynamic stall during takeoff phase of a touch-and-go landing at Hefner-Easley Airport, Wagoner (H68), Oklahoma, when the engine lost engine power due to fuel exhaustion/starvation. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage. The uncertificated pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was had been owned and operated by the pilot for approximately two years. The local flight originated from H68 about 1945. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane, powered by a Rotax (serial number 6025420) engine, was about 100 feet above the ground after takeoff when the engine quit due to fuel depletion. The pilot estimated that there was about 8 gallons of fuel on board and stated that the fuel gauge was inoperative. The Hobbs meter indicated 1,972 hours, and the pilot thought that the meter was inoperative. The pilot stated the he did not know his total flight time in the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
On May 28, 2014, at 2027 central standard time, an unregistered experimental amateur-built Buccaneer SX, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power and aerodynamic stall during takeoff phase of a touch-and-go landing at Hefner-Easley Airport, Wagoner (H68), Oklahoma, when the engine lost engine power due to fuel exhaustion/starvation. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage. The uncertificated pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was had been owned and operated by the pilot for approximately two years. The local flight originated from H68 about 1945. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane, powered by a Rotax (serial number 6025420) engine, was about 100 feet above the ground after takeoff when the engine quit due to fuel depletion. The pilot estimated that there was about 8 gallons of fuel on board and stated that the fuel gauge was inoperative. The Hobbs meter indicated 1,972 hours, and the pilot thought that the meter was inoperative. The pilot stated the he did not know his total flight time in the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Unknown Buccaneer SX
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- NO DATA PLATE
- Built
- 1990
- Engine
- Rotax 582, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Unregistered
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Departed
- Wagoner, OK
- Destination
- Wagoner, OK
- Airport
- H68 · Hefner-Easley Airport, runway 18, 3,401 × 60 ft
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- Serious
- Flight hours
- 11 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- MKO, 19 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.