# NTSB ERA20CA090: Pitts A, N113A, Hickory Valley, TN, December 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 19, 2019, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Hickory Valley, TN - Coordinates: 35.181667, -89.103889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1817&lon=-89.1039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100878/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100878 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA090 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts-Abernathy A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=72202M6), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pitts-Abernathy A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=72202M6), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Pitts-Abernathy A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=72202M6), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Pitts-Abernathy A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=72202M6), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane departed with 17.5 gallons of fuel and about 1 hour and 25 minutes after departure the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine using the boost pump to no avail. The pilot elected to make an off-airport landing to a road; during the landing the airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the firewall. Both the wing fuel tanks were examined and no evidence of fuel remained in either tank. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation that more thoughtfully studying the fuel consumption "break in" period could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N113A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N113A-2021-05-29), registration cancelled 2021-05-29, S/N 1, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts A (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Pitts-Abernathy A](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-abernathy-a) (registry code 72202M6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 1660 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 19, 2019 - Departed: M08, Bolivar, TN - Destination: M08, Bolivar, TN - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,090 total, 351 in this make and model, 1,974 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: KM08, 4 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 20191219017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191219017739A), Dec 19, 2019: Pitts-Abernathy A, Bolivar, TN, Substantial damage. On 12/19/2019 [privacy data omitted] landed N113A on hwy 18 in Bolivar TN. The aircraft hit several tree branches and then hit an embankment next to the hwy,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100878. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.