# NTSB ERA25LA010: Ditsler Paul A Dakota Hawk, N357PC, Nicklesville, GA, October 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 11, 2024, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Nicklesville, GA - Coordinates: 34.6019, -84.7767 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6019&lon=-84.7767&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): 195307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195307/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195307 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA010 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, fuel planning, and improper fuel management during flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent off-airport hard landing. ## 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: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05638N3), [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: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05638N3), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05638N3), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05638N3), [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: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05638N3), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05638N3), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, about 12 miles from of his destination the pilot stated that the engine lost all power “due to fuel exhaustion.” The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the landing gear collapsed due to the airplane’s “excessive vertical speed.” The airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot further stated that he failed to check the airplane’s fuel levels prior to or during the flight. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N357PC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N357PC), registered now, S/N DH106, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DITSLER PAUL A DAKOTA HAWK - Registry model: [Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/ditsler-paul-a-dakota-hawk) (registry code 05638N3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DH106 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 154 - Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 4, 2024, 24 hours before - Departed: 9A0, Dahlonega, GA - Destination: CZL, Calhoun, GA - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 517 total, 16 in this make and model, 458 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: DNN, 16 nm away - METAR: KDNN 112215Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/07 A3016 RMK AO2 T02290066 ## 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 20241011015889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241011015889A), Oct 11, 2024: Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK, Nickelsville, GA, Destroyed. Pilot reported he depleated the header tank of fuel causing the aircraft to lose power. Pilot stated he did not have enough altitude for fuel transfer from… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195307. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17851948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17852336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17855706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot%20Seatbelt-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.