# NTSB ERA22LA264: Cessna 208, N90JF, Ellington, CT, June 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 4, 2022, 11:22 local (15:22 UTC) - Place: Ellington, CT - Coordinates: 41.925417, -72.457111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9254&lon=-72.4571&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 105227 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105227/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105227 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA264 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, an emergency landing, and runway excursion. ## 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: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073702), [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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073702), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he planned to refuel the skydiving jump airplane after his third flight of skydivers and experienced about 10 minutes of loading delays with the third flight of skydivers. Then, while climbing, he was “delayed a few minutes” because of traffic in the area. He stated that he was not sure when the low fuel light illuminated, but that on his descent back toward the airport after releasing the third load of skydivers, the red “Reservoir Fuel Low” annunciator illuminated. About 8,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion. Subsequently, the pilot made an emergency landing at the airport; however, the airplane was “fast and floated.” The airplane touched down midfield, departed the end of the runway, and encountered a tree line, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated he “believe[d] the aircraft ran out of fuel due to several unforeseen and unplanned delays.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90JF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90JF), registered now, S/N 20800005, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208 - Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-114a) (registry code 52257, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800005 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 19514.5 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Connecticut Parachutist Inc - Registered owner: Isr Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 4, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 7B9, Ellington, runway 19, 1,800 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,185 total, 35 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: BDL, 10 nm away - METAR: KBDL 041451Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW030 23/13 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP110 T02280133 58005 ## 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 20220604009539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220604009539A), Jun 4, 2022: Cessna 208, Ellington, CT, Substantial damage. Mishap pilot stated that the mishap aircraft suffered engine failure / power loss while in descent attitude. Mishap pilot was unable to restart the engine and… ## Other investigations on N90JF (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA24LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA168), Apr 7, 2024: Cessna 208 (N90JF), Ellington, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath to the runway, which resulted in a runway undershoot and collision with terrain. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105227. 9.8 MB in all. - Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14062793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Combined%20with%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14062932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14063017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA264%20ROC%20Pilot%20Reviewed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14063027&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14062032&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA264%20Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-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. --- 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.