# NTSB DEN08LA109: Flight Design Ctsw, N460CT, Von Ormy, TX, June 21, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 2008, 16:13 local (21:13 UTC)
- Place: Von Ormy, TX
- Coordinates: 29.479999, -98.446388
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4800&lon=-98.4464&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA109

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were a proper touchdown point was not possible and the inadequate display of the fuel quantity indicator.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Physical workspace: controls and displays](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041050): Environmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041050/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041050/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: [Flight Design CTSW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTSW, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

As the pilot was being radar vectored through controlled airspace, the engine began to sputter and then it "stopped." The pilot was unable to restart the engine, so he moved the propeller to the horizontal position "to protect the engine during touchdown." He selected a "good field" in level pastureland for the forced landing. After turning onto the base leg, he noticed a number of horses grazing at the beginning of the field and he turned on final approach sooner than intended. This moved his touchdown point further downfield than he wanted. Indicated airspeed was 50 mph in the flare. He lowered the flaps to 40 degrees. As soon as he cleared the horses, he retracted the flaps to "increase the friction of the brakes on the grassy pasture surface. This made the pasture a little short" and the airplane overran the end and struck a wire fence, collapsing the nose gear and buckling the composite structure. The pilot admitted that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion "which could have been avoided by obtaining fuel at the last stop." He said the airplane was not equipped with in-flight readable fuel indicators, only a dipstick gauge, and this makes it "tricky to utilize the full 34 gallon capacity." He concluded that "an accurate fuel gauge and experience with timing and fuel usage at a certain RPM would have solved this fuel management problem." He recommended that "the fuel indicator tubes in the wing roots be changed at every annual inspection."

## Factual narrative

On June 21, 2008, at 1613 central daylight time, a Flight Design GMBH CTSW, N460CT, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence and nosed over during a forced landing after the engine lost power near Von Ormy, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated in Houston (SGR), Texas, at 1430, and was en route to Castorville (T89), Texas. According to the pilot's accident report, he was at 5,000 feet msl (above mean sea level) and was being vectored through San Antonio (SAT) airspace by SAT approach control. The engine began to sputter and then it "stopped." The pilot was unable to restart the engine, so he moved the propeller to the horizontal position "to protect the engine during touchdown." He selected a "good field" in level pastureland for the forced landing. After turning onto the base leg, he noticed a number of horses grazing at the beginning of the field and he turned on final approach sooner than intended. This moved his touchdown point further downfield than he wanted. Indicated airspeed was 50 mph in the flare. He lowered the flaps to 40 degrees. As soon as he cleared the horses, he retracted the flaps to "increase the friction of the brakes on the grassy pasture surface. This made the pasture a little short" and the airplane overran the end and struck a wire fence, collapsing the nose gear and buckling the composite structure. The pilot admitted that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion "which could have been avoided by obtaining fuel at the last stop." He said the airplane was not equipped with in-flight readable fuel indicators, only a dipstick gauge, and this makes it "tricky to utilize the full 34 gallon capacity." He concluded that "an accurate fuel gauge and experience with timing and fuel usage at a certain RPM would have solved this fuel management problem." He recommended that "the fuel indicator tubes in the wing roots be changed at every annual inspection."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N460CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N460CT), registered now, S/N 05-07-06, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Flight Design GMBH CTSW
- Registry model: [Flight Design CTSW](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctsw) (registry code 0600001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 05-07-06
- Airframe hours: 322
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John R. Rimmer III
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008, 33 hours before
- Departed: SGR, Houston, TX
- Destination: T89, Castorville, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 5,957 total, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: SAT

## 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 20080621841689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080621841689A), Jun 21, 2008: Amtr CTSW, Von Ormy, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft run out of fuel at 5000 MSL. Pilot landed on open field at a farm also used as landing strip. Pilot touched down past half distance from the…

## Other investigations on N460CT (2)

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.

- [NTSB CEN12CA499](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA499), Jul 30, 2012: Flight Design Ctsw (N460CT), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB NYC06CA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA135), May 30, 2006: Flight Design Gmbh (N460CT), Leesburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper remedial action to regain directional control after takeoff. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after takeoff.

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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