# NTSB ERA09CA462: Unknown Sabre-Trike, Crandall, GA, August 12, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 11, 2009, 20:15 local (Aug 12, 2009, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Crandall, GA
- Coordinates: 34.975555, -84.800277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9756&lon=-84.8003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA462
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74518/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74518
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA462

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.

## 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: 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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he planned a short duration local flight and while on approach returning to land, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. He initiated an approach to a farmer’s pasture and in the process landed hard on the nose wheel which broke off. The weight-shift aircraft then nosed over.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he planned a short duration local flight and while on approach returning to land, the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. He initiated an approach to a farmer’s pasture and in the process landed hard on the nose wheel which broke off. The weight-shift aircraft then nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: UNKNOWN Sabre-Trike
- Category: Weight-shift, amateur-built
- Serial number: Unknown
- Airframe hours: 4
- Engines: Rotax 447 48 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gary M. Kerr
- Registered owner: Unregistered
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Crandall, GA
- Destination: Crandall, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 20 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74518. 817 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.

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