# NTSB CEN19LA243: Culver LCA, N29272, Viroqua, WI, July 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 25, 2019, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Viroqua, WI - Coordinates: 43.556945, -90.88861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5569&lon=-90.8886&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99950/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99950 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA243 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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: [Culver LCA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8730202), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Culver LCA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8730202), [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: [Culver LCA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8730202), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Culver LCA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8730202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Culver LCA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8730202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with 19 gallons of fuel onboard, and about 3 hours and 41 minutes into the cross-country flight, the engine “quit.” The pilot performed a forced landing in a soybean field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, empennage, and canopy bulkhead. Examination revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tank, which was intact. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine. Based on the available information, it is likely that the total loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2019, about 1555 central daylight time, a Culver LCA airplane, N29272, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Viroqua, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and a passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules cross-country flight. He reported that he departed with 19 gallons of fuel onboard, and about 3 hours and 41 minutes into the flight, the engine “quit.” The pilot performed a forced landing in a soybean field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the rudder, empennage, and canopy bulkhead. The engine spark plugs were removed and displayed normal operating signatures. The engine was rotated by hand and drive continuity was confirmed. No mechanical anomalies were found. The fuel system and fuel tank were intact. The fuel cap was in place and the float level indicator seemed to be serviceable. There was no visible fuel in the fuel tank and some debris was found in the bottom of the tank. The fuel inlet screen on the bottom of the carburetor was removed and was clean. About 1/2 ounce of fuel was found in the bottom of the carburetor bowl, which emptied the bowl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29272](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29272), registered now, S/N 141, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Culver LCA (No Series) - Registry model: [Culver LCA](https://openairdocs.org/model/culver-lca) (registry code 8730202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 141 - Year built: 1940 - Airframe hours: 1530 - Engines: Continental A75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 9V9, Chamberlain, SD - Destination: C35, Reedsburg, WI - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 15, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 480 total, 400 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: Y51, 2 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 20190725011819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190725011819A), Jul 25, 2019: Culver LCA, Viroqua, WI, Substantial damage. On July 25, 2019 at 1540 CST, a 1940 Culver cadet Lca N29272, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged when landing in a soybean field after the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99950. 11.4 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN19LA243 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13049909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN19LA243_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record FAA inspector site examination findings CEN19LA243 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13050314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Site%20Examination%20Findings%20%20CEN19LA243_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN19LA243 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13049216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN19LA243-Rel.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.