# NTSB CEN14CA479: Quicksilver 2S, Frontenac, MN, August 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2014, 20:00 local (Aug 20, 2014, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Frontenac, MN - Coordinates: 44.514999, -92.366111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5150&lon=-92.3661&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA479 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90016/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90016 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA479 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise due to fuel exhaustion resulting in a forced landing on a cornfield. ## 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: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [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: [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: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot reported that the airplane fuel tank contained one gallon of gasoline prior to departure. The pilot departed in his unregistered airplane on a local flight and monitored the fuel in the fuel tank line during the flight. He said the fuel line indicated that there was three inches of fuel in the fuel tank. The engine lost power about a half hour into the flight and one mile from its destination. The pilot made a forced landing on a cornfield, and the airplane sustained substantial fuselage damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. His safety recommendation stated that he should not have flown with so little fuel, and he should not have trusted the fuel level he saw in the line. ## Factual narrative The non-certificated pilot reported that the airplane fuel tank contained one gallon of gasoline prior to departure. The pilot departed in his unregistered airplane on a local flight and monitored the fuel in the fuel tank line during the flight. He said the fuel line indicated that there was three inches of fuel in the fuel tank. The engine lost power about a half hour into the flight and one mile from its destination. The pilot made a forced landing on a cornfield, and the airplane sustained substantial fuselage damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight. His safety recommendation stated that he should not have flown with so little fuel, and he should not have trusted the fuel level he saw in the line. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER 2S - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: unknown - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: MY50, FRONTENAC, MN - Destination: MY50, FRONTENAC, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 500 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KRGK, 7 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90016. 986 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 986 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.