# NTSB CEN22LA260: Smith Miniplane DSA-1, N208C, Union, NE, June 19, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 19, 2022, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Union, NE
- Coordinates: 40.818145, -95.847543 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8181&lon=-95.8475&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105304/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105304
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA260

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## 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 Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=83501K9), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=83501K9), [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: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=83501K9), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began running rough. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing into a wooded area, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that no fuel was present in the fuel line from the engine-driven pump to the carburetor. The carburetor bowl was completely dry, and the fuel tank was empty when viewed with a borescope. No anomalies were observed with the fuel cap vent, filler neck, carburetor, engine cylinders, magnetos, or the engine’s mechanical continuity. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the airplane’s fuel supply was exhausted due to the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, leading to a loss of engine power and forced landing. The airplane was not equipped with a fuel quantity gauge, which likely contributed to the pilot’s lack of awareness of the airplane’s low fuel state.

## Factual narrative

On June 19, 2022, about 1030 central daylight time, a Smith Miniplane DSA-1, N208C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Union, Nebraska. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, while cruising about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. He landed the airplane into a wooded area, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and fuselage. Post-accident examination revealed that no fuel was present in the fuel line from the engine-driven pump to the carburetor. The carburetor bowl was completely dry and clean, with a small amount of fuel in the accelerator pump cavity. The fuel tank was empty when viewed with a borescope, and the fuel selector valve was in the open position. No anomalies were noted with the fuel cap vent, filler neck, carburetor, cylinders, magnetos, or the engine’s mechanical continuity. The airplane was not equipped with a fuel quantity gauge.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N208C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208C-2023-12-04), registration cancelled 2023-12-04, S/N GY-DSA-100, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH MINIPLANE DSA-1
- Registry model: [Smith Miniplane DSA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-miniplane-dsa-1) (registry code 83501NX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: GY-DSA-100
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 378
- Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 2021
- Departed: MLE, Omaha, NE
- Destination: MLE, Omaha, NE
- Airport: n/a

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 1, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 20 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KPMV, 8 nm away
- METAR: KPMV 191535Z AUTO 14013G17KT 10SM CLR 28/23 A3008 RMK AO2 T02750225 PWINO

## 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 20220619010659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220619010659A), Jun 19, 2022: Smith Miniplane DSA-1, Union, NE, Substantial damage. On June 19, 2022 the pilot of [privacy data omitted], a Smith Miniplane DSA-1, departed from the millard airport in omaha, Nebraska at approximately 10:00 am.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105304. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16275602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos of airplane at accident site (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14466137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf
- Aircraft examination information (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14466127&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Information_Redacted-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.

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