# NTSB DEN91LA016: Fogarty Pitts S1SEW, N87PF, Bennett, CO, November 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 11, 1990, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Bennett, CO
- Coordinates: 39.750595, -104.419944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7506&lon=-104.4199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18054
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18054/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA016

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE AND THE RESULTANT FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ATP PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS WITH A BORROWED AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1500 FEET AGL, AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED AND THE PLANE CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. TWO WING SPARS WERE BENT AND THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED. THE OWNER AND PILOT SAID THE PLANE HAD FLOWN FOR 2.5 HOURS ON 19 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE OWNER SAID THE PLANE USED 8 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE TANKS AND ONLY A TRACE IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM. A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN RESULTED IN A NORMAL RUN. THE PILOT STATED HE RAN OUT OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87PF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87PF-1992-09-25), registration cancelled 1992-09-25, S/N 30 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOGARTY PITTS S1SEW
- Registry model: [Fogarty Patrick D FOGARTY PITTS S1SEW](https://openairdocs.org/model/fogarty-patrick-d-fogarty-pitts-s1sew) (registry code 72206CE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 30
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fogarty, Patrick D.
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Destination: APA
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,500 total, 21 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19901111049609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901111049609A), Nov 11, 1990: Child S1SPITTS, Bennett, CO, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel returning from acrobatic practice. Struck ditch on forced landing.

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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