# NTSB GAA16CA099: Davis Michael J MD Special, N141MD, Wallace, NC, December 21, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 21, 2015, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Wallace, NC
- Coordinates: 34.789722, -77.95111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7897&lon=-77.9511&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 April 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92574/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92574
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA099

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in 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: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 720 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: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 1,696 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.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 3,368 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: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05603PF), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during a cross country flight, he "ran out" of fuel, and subsequently had to land on a two lane road. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll the right wing impacted a road sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a cross country flight, he "ran out" of fuel, and subsequently had to land on a two lane road. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll the right wing impacted a road sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N141MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N141MD), registered now, S/N 001, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAVIS MICHAEL J MD SPECIAL
- Registry model: [Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-michael-j-md-special) (registry code 05603PF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 1996
- Airframe hours: 738
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A2 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2015
- Departed: HWV, SHIRLEY, NY
- Destination: ACZ, WALLACE, NC
- Airport: ACZ, Henderson Field
- Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 564.5 total, 290.7 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3.4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observed at: KOAJ, 17 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 20151221022289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151221022289A), Dec 21, 2015: Davis Michael J MD SPECIAL, Teachey, NC, Minor damage. On 12/21/2015 ,N141MD, a homebuilt experimental aircraft, departed brookhaven airport, khwv, @ 0930 and crashed landed on NC11 county road in Teachey, north…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92574. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.

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