# NTSB ERA21LA382: Wyder Robert G Marquart MA-5, N79RW, Waycross, GA, September 23, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 23, 2021, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Waycross, GA
- Coordinates: 31.204444, -82.395556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2044&lon=-82.3956&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- 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): 103980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA382
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103980/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103980
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA382

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on approach due to fuel starvation.

## 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: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05632Z7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that he fueled the airplane 4 days prior to the long cross-country flight and entered 24 gallons of useable fuel into his fuel computer prior to takeoff. While enroute, the pilot switched from the main fuel tank to the wing fuel tank and the engine lost all power. The pilot switched back to the main fuel tank and the engine regained power. He had not used the wing fuel tank for some time and suspected fuel contamination in that tank; however, he forgot to reset his fuel computer from 24 gallons to 16 gallons of useable fuel to account for 8 gallons in the wing tank that would not be available. During final approach to the destination airport, at low altitude, the engine lost all power due to fuel starvation. During the forced landing, the airplane became entangled in powerlines. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot added that in retrospect, he should have done a pretakeoff runup on the wing tank as he had not used that tank in a while. Additionally, he should have made an intermediate fuel stop once he realized that he would not be able to use the fuel in his wing tank. The reason for the failure of fuel to feed from the wing tank was not determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79RW-2023-01-19), registration cancelled 2023-01-19, S/N 404, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WYDER ROBERT G MARQUART MA-5
- Registry model: [Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/wyder-robert-g-marquart-ma-5) (registry code 05632Z7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1e) (registry code 41860, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 404
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 210
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, February 21, 2021, 13 hours before
- Departed: OMN, Ormond Beach, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: AYS, Waycross -Ware County Airport, runway 1, 5,992 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 1, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,175 total, 586 in this make and model, 1,175 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: AYS, 2 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 20210923016339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210923016339A), Sep 23, 2021: Wyder Robert G MARQUART MA-5, Waycross, GA, Destroyed. Aircraft N79RW left ormond beach municipal airport (omn)headed to triple tree airport (woodruff, SC) SC00. The experimentally robert g Wyder amateur built…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103980. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13073197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12782692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12782916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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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