# NTSB GAA15CA037: Jabiru Jabiru - SP, N593J, Surprise, AZ, April 4, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 4, 2015, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Surprise, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.593887, -112.421112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5939&lon=-112.4211&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91006/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA037

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## 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: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060001T), [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: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060001T), [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.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060001T), [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: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was landing at a dirt airstrip near his residence when his engine quit while maneuvering at a low altitude. He landed the airplane in a field, perpendicular to the field's furrows, resulting in the airplane coming to rest on its nose and sustaining damage to the propeller and nose landing gear, and substantial damage to the right wing. According to the FAA air safety inspector, no fuel was found in the wing fuel tanks during a post-accident examination. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated he was landing at a dirt airstrip near his residence when his engine quit while maneuvering at a low altitude. He landed the airplane in a field, perpendicular to the field's furrows, resulting in the airplane coming to rest on its nose and sustaining damage to the propeller and nose landing gear, and substantial damage to the right wing. According to the FAA air safety inspector, no fuel was found in the wing fuel tanks during a post-accident examination. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N593J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N593J-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 413, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JABIRU JABIRU - SP (SP)
- Registry model: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j250-sp) (registry code 060001T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 413
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 312
- Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2015
- Departed: KGEU, Glendale, AZ
- Destination: Surprise, AZ
- Airport: GEU, Glendale Muni
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 92; injuries: none; sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,312 total, 266 in this make and model, 9,756 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KGEU, 7 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 20150404005249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150404005249A), Apr 4, 2015: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP, Waddell, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot stated and documented in his logbook that he checked fuel quantity before first flight of day. Lt tank had 9.5 gallons while rr tank had 12 gallons.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91006. 4.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right Wing (Photo Courtesy Surprise AZ PD) (item 2, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20Surprise%20AZ%20PD)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Right Wing spar Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20spar%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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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