# NTSB ERA23LA051: Pipistrel D O O Virus SW, N91RR, Cross City, FL, November 7, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 7, 2022, 15:35, time zone not recorded
- Place: Cross City, FL
- Coordinates: 29.638847, -83.12325 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6388&lon=-83.1232&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 106259
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106259/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106259
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA051

## Probable cause

The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent deployment of the ballistic parachute recovery system.

## 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: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05641A7), [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: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05641A7), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05641A7), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05641A7), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05641A7), [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: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05641A7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The two pilots were conducting multiple cross-country flights the day of the accident with the purpose of building flight time as part of an air carrier pilot development program. The pilots departed for the fourth leg of the day and the left seat pilot was primarily flying for this leg. Both pilots reported that while enroute they noticed the fuel level was low. Subsequently, about 15 nautical miles from the destination, the engine lost all power. The left seat pilot reported that the right seat pilot took control of the airplane after the loss of power. About 600 feet above ground level (agl) the right seat pilot deployed the ballistic parachute recovery system when it became clear that they would not be able to glide to an airport. The impact with the ground resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Post-accident inspection of the fuel system showed no fuel visible in either wing tank and no fuel visible in the inline fuel filters. The left seat pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91RR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91RR-2026-07-21), registration cancelled 2026-07-21, S/N VSWX121C0106, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL D O O VIRUS SW (121C)
- Registry model: [Pipistrel D O O VIRUS SW 121C](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-d-o-o-virus-sw-121c) (registry code 05641A7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912S3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s3) (registry code 55594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: VSWX121C0106
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 123.1
- Engines: Rotax 912 S3-01 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Right Rudder Aviation
- Registered owner: Mesa Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 4, 2022
- Departed: 2J9, Quincy, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CTY, Cross City
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 70 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days
- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,240 total, 40 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: CTY, 3 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCTY 072035Z AUTO 06005KT 10SM SCT050 SCT065 29/17 A3009 RMK AO2      T02910167

## 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 20221107019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221107019129A), Nov 7, 2022: PIPISTREL d Oo VIRUS sw 121c, Cross City, FL, Substantial damage. PIC and safety pilot refueled at 2J9 with 4 gallons of fuel. The safety pilot added the fuel and both pilots agreed the amount was adequate for the flight from…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106259. 20.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - left seat pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14825810&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20PIC%20NTSB%20FORM%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - right seat pilot (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14826038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%206120_final_PRP_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - right rudder aviation (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14826622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2.5%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20RRA_V1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Left seat pilot's statement to FAA (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 10.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14825551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20PIC%20-%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, chief pilot right rudder aviation (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14860091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20No%20Fuel%20RRA%20Chief%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� restraint system used (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14825820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Restraint%20Used-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� no mechanical failure or malfunation (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14826140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Memorandum%20For%20Record%20No%20Mechanical%20Failure-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, mesa pilot development program lead (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14839299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20Mesa%20PDP-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 9, PDF, 8 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14826399&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Photo%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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