# NTSB ERA10CA333: Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, N216JD, Inglis, FL, June 25, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2010, 15:06 local (19:06 UTC) - Place: Inglis, FL - Coordinates: 29.032777, -82.666664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0328&lon=-82.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA333 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement. ## 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 level; cases with it: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7320100), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7320100), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7320100), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7320100), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7320100), [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: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7320100), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilots, they flew the rented airplane the day before the accident and returned it to the fixed base operator (FBO) to have it topped off with fuel. Later that evening, they flew it for about 2 hours, conducting touch-and-go landings at several different airports. They returned to the FBO late at night and did not refuel the airplane. The next morning, they split the preflight responsibilities. One pilot inspected the right side of the airplane, and the other pilot inspected the left side of the airplane. The fuel gauges were reportedly checked by one of the pilots, who thought the tanks were full. They subsequently departed with a passenger and reached their first destination after an estimated 30 minutes of flight. Afterward, they departed for an estimated hour-long flight to have lunch at a different location. After lunch, they took off for another airport 36 miles away to refuel, before returning the airplane back to the FBO. Ten minutes into the flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The attempted engine restarts were unsuccessful, the pilot in command (PIC) elected to land in a field, and the airplane nosed over before coming to a stop. The three occupants were able to exit the airplane on their own. One of the pilots subsequently stated that a "miscalculation of the amount of fuel onboard” led to the accident. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that there was very little evidence of residual fuel, and no indiction of preexisting fuel leakage at the accident site. ## Factual narrative According to the pilots, the day before the accident, they had flown the rented airplane, and returned it to the fixed base operator (FBO) to have it topped off with fuel. Later that evening, they flew it for about 2 hours, conducting touch and go landings at several different airports. They returned to the FBO late at night and did not refuel the airplane. The next morning, they split the preflight responsibilities. One pilot inspected the right side of the airplane, and the other, the left side of the airplane. The fuel gauges were reportedly checked by one of the pilots, who thought the tanks were full. They subsequently departed with a passenger and reached their first destination after an estimated 30 minutes of flight. Afterwards, they departed for an estimated hour-long flight to have lunch at different location. After lunch, they took off for another airport 36 miles away to refuel, before returning the airplane back to the FBO. Ten minutes into the flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The attempted engine restarts were unsuccessful, the pilot in command (PIC) elected to land in a field, and the airplane nosed over before coming to a stop. The three occupants were able to exit the airplane on their own. One of the pilots subsequently stated that a "miscalculation of the amount of fuel onboard” led to the accident. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated that there was very little evidence of residual fuel, and no indiction of preexisting fuel leakage at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N216JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N216JD-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 11E-1003, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUARTZ MOUNTAIN AEROSPACE INC 11E - Registry model: [Quartz Mountain Aerospace 11E](https://openairdocs.org/model/quartz-mountain-aerospace-11e) (registry code 7320100) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-ES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-es) (registry code 17160, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11E-1003 - Airframe hours: 439 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360-ES 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CDK, Cedar Key, FL - Destination: X35, Dunnellon, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 501 total, 140 in this make and model, 327 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 53; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 1,100 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: OCF, 20 nm away ## 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 20100625045079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100625045079A), Jun 25, 2010: Quartz Moun 11E, Dunnellon, FL, Substantial damage. While on a pleasure flight from sanford to cedar key and into the Dunnellon area. The crew of three consisted of the pilot & co-pilot whom shared the duties of… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76442. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement: Non Flying Pilot. (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%3A%20Non%20Flying%20Pilot.-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Records of Conversation. (item 3, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Records%20of%20Conversation.-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous:Excerpts From the Airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheets. (item 4, .PDF, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3AExcerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheets.-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous:Excerpts From Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc Fuel Consumption Chart. (item 5, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3AExcerpts%20From%20Teledyne%20Continental%20Motors,%20Inc%20Fuel%20Consumption%20Chart.-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. --- 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.