# NTSB CEN16LA207: Smith Capella FW2R, N418DS, Alamo, TX, June 3, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2016, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Alamo, TX
- Coordinates: 26.19111, -98.115554
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1911&lon=-98.1156&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93314
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93314/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93314
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA207

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a forced landing and a collision with a tree.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=056067V), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056067V), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056067V), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=056067V), [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: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056067V), [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: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056067V), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=056067V), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to use most of the fuel remaining in the fuel tanks so that he could store the airplane over the summer. While returning to the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. During the subsequent forced landing to a small field, the airplane hit a tree, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that when the airplane was recovered, both fuel tanks were empty.

## Factual narrative

On June 3, 2016, about 1030 central daylight time, a Smith Capella Aircraft FW2R/XLS airplane, N418DS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Alamo, Texas. The commercial pilot had minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE), McAllen, Texas, about 0900, and was returning to MFE at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to use most of the fuel in the airplane, as he was going to park the airplane over the summer. In the past the automotive gasoline had "gummed up" his system sitting in the heat over the summer. The pilot flew to South Texas International Airport (EBG), Edinburg, Texas, landed, called his wife, departed and conducted a touch and go landing, and then returned to MFE. EBG was 17 miles north of MFE. The airplane was at 2,500 feet above ground level and about 8 miles from the airport when the engine lost power. The pilot continued to fly the airplane towards the airport looking for a place to land while attempting to restore engine power. As he approached the airport his options diminished and during the forced landing to a small field the airplane hit a tree resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage of the airplane. The pilot stated that when the airplane was recovered, both fuel tanks were empty. He stated that he was confident that he just ran out of fuel resulting in the loss of engine power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N418DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N418DS), registered now, S/N DS4, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH Capella FW2R (XLS)
- Registry model: [Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS)](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-richard-d-fw2tr-xls) (registry code 056067V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: DS4
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 296
- Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 14, 2015
- Departed: KMFE, McAllen, TX
- Destination: KMPE, McAllen, TX
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 98; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 4, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KMFE

## 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 20160603008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160603008549A), Jun 3, 2016: Smith Richard D FW2TR (XLS), Mcallen, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot departed from edinburg airport edinburg, Texas (25R) for Mcallen airport Mcallen, Texas (mfe) after completing touch and go landings. Approximately 20…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93314. 971 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 971 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.