# NTSB GAA15CA234: Burton Dennis W Sonex, N683DB, Wolcottville, IN, August 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2015, 20:00 local (Aug 16, 2015, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Wolcottville, IN - Coordinates: 41.534999, -85.375274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5350&lon=-85.3753&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: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Grand Rapids FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91833/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91833 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA234 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced off-airport landing, and nose 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: [Burton Dennis W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05621DV), [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: [Burton Dennis W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05621DV), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Burton Dennis W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05621DV), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Burton Dennis W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05621DV), [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: [Burton Dennis W SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05621DV), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a local flight, the pilot reported that his engine quit while maneuvering about 1,200 above ground level. The pilot stated that his only option was to land in a soy bean field, and he attempted to fly as slow as possible prior to touchdown. After rolling about 50 feet in the field the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that for the majority of the 30 minute flight, he was flying with the fuel mixture full rich. He stated that he did not depart with full fuel, and must have been burning fuel at a higher rate than he originally anticipated. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, during a postaccident examination the airplane's fuel tanks were empty and no fuel was found at the tank sumps. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The vertical stabilizer and left wing sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative During a local flight, the pilot reported that his engine quit while maneuvering about 1,200 above ground level. The pilot stated that his only option was to land in a soy bean field, and he attempted to fly as slow as possible prior to touchdown. After rolling about 50 feet in the field the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that for the majority of the 30 minute flight, he was flying with the fuel mixture full rich. He stated that he did not depart with full fuel, and must have been burning fuel at a higher rate than he originally anticipated. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, during a postaccident examination the airplane's fuel tanks were empty and no fuel was found at the tank sumps. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The vertical stabilizer and left wing sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N683DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N683DB), registered now, S/N 0691 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURTON DENNIS W SONEX (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Burton Dennis W SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/burton-dennis-w-sonex) (registry code 05621DV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0691 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 431 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2015 - Departed: C62, KENDALLVILLE, IN - Destination: C62, KENDALLVILLE, IN - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 900 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KANQ, 12 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 20150815013839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150815013839A), Aug 15, 2015: Burton Dennis W SONEX, Wolcottville, IN, Substantial damage. The experimental aircraft departed kendallville (C62) on August 18, 2015 around 8:00PM with 2 occupants on board, 1 pilot, 1 passenger. The pilot stated he was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91833. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 915 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Docket Photo (item 4, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Docket%20Photo-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.