# NTSB ERA22LA420: Yakovlev YAK-55M, N307GS, Waldo, FL, September 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 15, 2022, 07:50 local (11:50 UTC) - Place: Waldo, FL · In field - Coordinates: 29.821723, -82.125501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8217&lon=-82.1255&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 105947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA420 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105947/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105947 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA420 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and the subsequent off-airport landing. ## 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: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=9830224), [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: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=9830224), [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-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-55M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9830224), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that prior to departure of the cross-country flight he performed a preflight inspection, which included using a dipstick to check the fuel quantity, though he later reported miscalculating the amount that was on-board. The flight departed with what he thought was 15 gallons of fuel for the intended 30-minute-long flight but when about 5 miles from the intended destination, the fuel pressure gauge decreased to 0 psi and the engine lost power rapidly. He realized he would be unable to land at his intended destination due to the airplane’s altitude and distance from it, so he performed an off-airport forced landing. The airplane touched down in a shallow ditch adjacent to a road and nosed over during the landing roll. He further stated that both fuel quantity gauges indicated near 0 at the moment of the loss of engine power. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage adjacent to the left main landing gear attach point. During recovery of the airplane no fuel was noted in the wing fuel tanks and postaccident examination revealed no fuel in the fuel service tank. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot exhausted the airplane’s fuel supply, which resulted in the total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N307GS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307GS), registered now, S/N 920607, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YAKOVLEV YAK-55M (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Yakovlev YAK-55M](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-55m) (registry code 9830224) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 920607 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 360 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2021 - Departed: CGC, Crystal River, FL - Destination: 42J, Keystone Heights, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 225 total, 164 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: K42J, 4 nm away - METAR: K42J 151155Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM BKN050 21/21 A3005 RMK A01 ## 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 20220915015449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220915015449A), Sep 15, 2022: Yakovlev YAK-55M, Waldo, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated they checked fuel prior to departure, had 15 gal. Pilot stated engine start around 7:05AM and took off at 7:20AM. Stated aircraft used 16 gal/hr,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105947. 63.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14899979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-1%20Recd%2010%2018%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14899871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20w%20Plt-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14900893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Convo_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - fuel service tank inspection (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14901568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20Fuel%20Service%20Tank%20Inspection_ERA22LA420_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - additional investigative information (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14901084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20-Additional%20Investigative%20Information_ERA22LA420-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14902053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 48.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14901475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_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.