# NTSB CHI08CA290: Unknown Supercat, Redding, IA, September 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2008, 01:20 local (06:20 UTC) - Place: Redding, IA - Coordinates: 40.606109, -94.386947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6061&lon=-94.3869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 69045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69045/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA290 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly manage the fuel supply of the airplane which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the hilly terrain encountered during the subsequent forced landing. ## 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: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had recently been purchased by the pilot and was being flown to his hometown airport. During the flight, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing in a rolling hay field which resulted in the airplane sustaining substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank had ruptured during the impact, however, further examination revealed no fuel remaining in the fuel lines or in the carburetor bowl. The pilot was issued a student pilot certificate and third class medical certificate on June 12, 2002. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed no further pilot or medical certificates issued to the pilot. The airplane was not registered and did not have an airworthiness certificate issued by the FAA. According to published data, a typical airplane of the same model has an empty weight of 325 pounds. The maximum legal empty weight limit for ultralight airplanes is 254 pounds. The pilot reported that he was unaware that the airplane was not an ultralight until after he had purchased it. He reported that "the people at the field told me I could fly 60 min[utes] plus 1 gal[lon]. It didn't." ## Factual narrative The airplane had recently been purchased by the pilot and was being flown to his hometown airport. During the flight, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing in a rolling hay field which resulted in the airplane sustaining substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank had ruptured during the impact, however, further examination revealed no fuel remaining in the fuel lines or in the carburetor bowl. The pilot was issued a student pilot certificate and third class medical certificate on June 12, 2002. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed no further pilot or medical certificates issued to the pilot. The airplane was not registered and did not have an airworthiness certificate issued by the FAA. According to published data, a typical airplane of the same model has an empty weight of 325 pounds. The maximum legal empty weight limit for ultralight airplanes is 254 pounds. The pilot reported that he was unaware that the airplane was not an ultralight until after he had purchased it. He reported that "the people at the field told me I could fly 60 min[utes] plus 1 gal[lon]. It didn't." ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Unknown Supercat - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: None - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: St. Joseph, MO - Destination: EAG, Eagle Grove, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; seat: center; flight hours: 120 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day 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.