# NTSB CEN18LA080: Tomlinson Tracy L Tukan, N907T, Erie, CO, January 18, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2018, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.010276, -105.048057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0103&lon=-105.0481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96632/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96632 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA080 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadvertent shutting off of the fuel valve while on approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot conducted seven takeoffs and landings on a dual instructional flight in the weight-shift-controlled aircraft. The aircraft was operating normally. After the dual instruction, the aircraft was taxied back to a hangar, where the instructor explained single-pilot operations to the student. The student pilot then took off solo. The instructor observed that the student pilot seemed to lose control on his first final approach and executed a go-around. On the second approach, the instructor observed the aircraft on final; it collided with trees and the wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot indicated that, while securing the aircraft after the accident, he realized that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel valve while on the downwind leg instead of activating the carburetor heat. He stated that the two systems had similar push/pull control knobs that were positioned next to each other in the cockpit. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2018, about 1605 mountain standard time, a Tukan experimental, amateur-built weight-shift aircraft, N907T, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during an approach to Erie Municipal Airport (ELK), Erie, Colorado. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and the flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated from ELK about 1600. A flight instructor flew the aircraft with the student pilot and conducted seven landings and takeoffs. The aircraft was operating normally during the dual instructional flight. After the dual instruction, the aircraft was taxied back to a hangar where the instructor pilot explained single pilot operations to the student. The student pilot then took off solo and entered the landing pattern. The instructor pilot observed that the student seemed to lose control on his first final approach and executed a go-around. On the second approach, the instructor observed the aircraft on final. The aircraft collided with trees and the wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. According to the student pilot, while securing the airplane after the accident, he realized that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel valve while on the downwind leg instead of activating the carburetor heat. He stated that the two systems had similar push/pull control knobs that were positioned next to each other in the cockpit. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical with the airframe or engine. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N907T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N907T-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 11760, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TOMLINSON TRACY L TUKAN (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Tomlinson Tracy L TUKAN TRIKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/tomlinson-tracy-l-tukan-trike) (registry code 05902JG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 11760 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 741.7 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EIK, Erie, CO - Destination: EIK, Erie, CO - Airport: EIK, Erie Municipal, runway 33, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: EIK ## 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 20180118000969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180118000969A), Jan 18, 2018: Tomlinson Tracy L TUKAN TRIKE, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. On January 18, 2018, about 1605 mountain standard time, a Tukan Trike experimental weight-shift light sport aircraft sustained substantial damage following a… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96632. 931 KB in all. - Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement CEN18CA080 (item 1, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20CEN18CA080-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Instuctor Pilot Statement CEN18CA080 (item 2, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Instuctor%20Pilot%20Statement%20CEN18CA080-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Witness Statement CEN18CA080 (item 3, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Witness%20Statement%20CEN18CA080-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Statement CEN18CA080 (item 4, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20CEN18CA080-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart CEN18CA080 (item 5, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart%20CEN18CA080-Master.PDF - Photo Array CEN18CA080 (item 6, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN18CA080-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.