# NTSB CEN26LA073: Rockwell International 114, N5879N, Stroud, OK, December 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 13, 2025, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Stroud, OK - Coordinates: 35.789583, -96.655667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7896&lon=-96.6557&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 March 5, 2026 - 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): 202241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of 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: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7630314), [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: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [Rockwell International 114, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rockwell International 114, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7630314), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he contacted air traffic control (ATC) and told them that he had an emergency fuel situation. ATC diverted him to the closest airport. The pilot landed the airplane short of the runway, the landing gear collapsed, the airplane skidded across the runway threshold, and came to rest on the runway. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection revealed that both the left and right wing fuel tanks were empty. Neither fuel tank was compromised. The pilot stated that he recently purchased the airplane and he was surprised that it burned more fuel than he anticipated. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5879N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5879N), registered now, S/N 14424, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 114 - Registry model: [Rockwell International 114](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-114) (registry code 7630314) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14424 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming IO540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PWA, Oklahoma City, OK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SUD, Stroud Municipal Airport, runway 18, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 241 total, 16 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KCQB, 9 nm away - METAR: KCQB 131910Z AUTO 03006KT 5SM HZ CLR 05/00 A3010 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202241. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19837166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19838279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19837400&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Mor- examination (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19947846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Examination-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.