# NTSB GAA15CA151: Flight Design Ctls, N799CT, Andover, MN, June 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 21, 2015, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Andover, MN - Coordinates: 45.256942, -93.344444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2569&lon=-93.3444&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: MINNEAPOLIS FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management and preflight planning, which resulted in the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a forced landing in a field where the airplane nosed over. ## 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: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060005B), [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: [Flight Design CTLS, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060005B), [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: [Flight Design CTLS, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005B), [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: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 10 miles from his destination airport he exhausted his fuel supply. Subsequently, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power and he made an emergency landing in a soft dirt field. During the landing roll, the amphibious float- equipped airplane nosed over and came to rest on its back after the floats dug into the dirt. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to flight, but believed he had a sufficient quantity. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that about 10 miles from his destination airport he exhausted his fuel supply. Subsequently, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power and he made an emergency landing in a soft dirt field. During the landing roll, the amphibious float- equipped airplane nosed over and came to rest on its back after the floats dug into the dirt. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to flight, but believed he had a sufficient quantity. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N799CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N799CT-2015-09-01), registration cancelled 2015-09-01, S/N F-13-04-06, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTLS (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-13-04-06 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 104 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: XVG, LONGVILLE, MN - Destination: ANE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 386 total, 102 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KANE, 13 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 20150621008889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150621008889A), Jun 21, 2015: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Andover, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was enroute to the anoka, MN airport (kane) when the engine sputtered and quit running. He checked the fuel and noticed that he had no fuel in the right… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91472. 2.4 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=40429956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Airplane Nosed Over (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20Nosed%20Over%20(Courtesy%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. --- 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.