# NTSB CEN26LA165: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N495LP, Peyton, CO, April 14, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 14, 2026, 04:17 local (10:17 UTC) - Place: Peyton, CO - Coordinates: 38.97905, -104.47434 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9791&lon=-104.4743&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 15, 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): 202824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202824/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202824 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA165 ## Probable cause The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=06001C6), [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: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The two commercial rated pilots were conducting a night cross-country flight with the purpose of building flight time. The pilots assessed fuel while on the return leg of their planned route and decided that there was enough fuel to conduct a practice instrument approach at another airport. After completing the practice approach, about 4 gallons of fuel was indicated on the fuel gauge and the pilots flew toward their destination. Subsequently, about 8 nautical miles from the destination, the engine lost all power. The right seat pilot conducted a forced landing to a field during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Post-accident inspection of the fuel system showed no fuel visible in the tank and about 1/2 teaspoon of fuel was drained from the sump. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the right seat pilot, there was a squawk on the airplane stating that the fuel gauge indicated about 2.5 to 3 gallons high. She stated that the squawk was not seen before the accident flight. According to the flight school, upon dispatching, pilots are automatically presented with open squawks to review through the company dispatching software. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N495LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N495LP), registered now, S/N 1160 AT 912 LSA, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPISTREL Alpha Trainer - Registry model: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-d-o-o-alpha-trainer) (registry code 06001C6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1160 AT 912 LSA - Year built: 2023 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL SERIES 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Meridian Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 2026 - Departed: LIC, Limon, CO - Destination: FLY, Colorado Springs, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FLY - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 22, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,209 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,092 as pilot in command, 218 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 10° at 9 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KFLY, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KFLY 141015Z AUTO 01009G19KT 10SM SCT090 SCT110 08/M10 A2991 RMK AO2 T00761098 ## 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 20260414003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260414003409A), Apr 14, 2026: Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, Payton, CO, Substantial damage. On 04/14/2026 at approximatly 0417, while finishing up a cross country flight, near Payton Colorado pilots experienced a loss of engine power from around… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202824. 7.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20588565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1-filled_Print_Redacted1-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20588281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20588482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN26LA165-Rel.pdf - Email correspondence (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 245 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20587979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=flight%20school%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20588613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20CEN26LA165_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. --- 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.