# NTSB CEN25LA129: Stemme S10-VT, N237DB, Kiowa, CO, March 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 15, 2025, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Kiowa, CO - Coordinates: 39.3663, -104.52605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3663&lon=-104.5260&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and 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: [Stemme S10-VT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1130872), [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: [Stemme S10-VT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stemme S10-VT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stemme S10-VT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Stemme S10-VT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Stemme S10-VT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Stemme S10-VT, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1130872), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while enroute to his destination, the engine lost all power. He attempted to restart the engine, stowed the engine to reduce drag, and executed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the glider impacted a fence and came to rest upright on a dirt road, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder. The pilot reported that he ran out of fuel. He stated that he should have used a dipstick to check the fuel level in the wings and not trusted the fuel gauges. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N237DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N237DB), registered now, S/N 11-045, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEMME GMBH & CO S10-VT - Registry model: [Stemme S10-VT](https://openairdocs.org/model/stemme-s10-vt) (registry code 1130872) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX-914 F2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-914-f2) (registry code 09057, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 11-045 - Year built: 2000 - Engines: Rotax 914 F2 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1V6, Canon City, CO - Destination: APA, Centennial, CO - Airport: NONE, Road - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 9,200 total, 120 in this make and model, 6,077 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: KMNH, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KMNH 152155Z AUTO 31012G18KT 10SM BKN039 OVC050 00/M07 A2969 RMK AO2= ## 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 20250315002159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250315002159A), Mar 15, 2025: Stemme Gmbh & Co S10-VT, Kiowa, CO, Substantial damage. Flying from IV6 to apa. Near elizabeth, CO aircraft engine shut off, attempted to land on a road. Aircraft lost altitude shortly before landing. Landed on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199868. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18692871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18693590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18701386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot-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.