# NTSB GAA19CA295: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N40EN, Salida, CO, May 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2019, 20:45 local (May 30, 2019, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Salida, CO - Coordinates: 38.529998, -106.066665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5300&lon=-106.0667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA295 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to replace the fuel cap after fueling, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing to a field and subsequent collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060009K), [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: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after fueling the airplane, he did not realize that he had not replaced the fuel cap. During takeoff, the fuel gauge showed that the airplane had 74% of fuel remaining. About 5 nautical miles from the destination airport, the fuel gauge showed that the airplane had 10% of fuel remaining. He flew the airplane in a straight line to the end of the runway and reduced the engine throttle setting to idle, which set up a lower glidepath than normal. When the airplane reached a field west of the runway, the airplane "ran out of fuel." The pilot conducted a forced landing on the field, during which the airplane impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage reported that less than 1/2 a gallon of fuel was recovered from the fuel tank. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, after fueling the airplane, he did not realize that he did not replace the fuel cap. During takeoff, the fuel gauge showed that the airplane had 74% of fuel (fuel gauge indicates in percent). About 5 nm from the destination airport, the fuel gauge showed that the airplane had 10% of fuel left. He flew the airplane in a straight line to the end of the runway and reduced the engine throttle setting to idle, which set up a lower glide path than normal. When the airplane reached the field west of the runway, the airplane "ran out of fuel." The airplane touched down on the field and impacted a barb wire fence during the landing roll. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that less than half a gallon of fuel was recovered from the fuel tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40EN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40EN-2021-06-05), registration cancelled 2021-06-05, S/N 683 AT 912 LSA, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER (No Series) - Registry model: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-lsa-s-r-l-alpha-trainer) (registry code 060009K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul2) (registry code 55574, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 683 AT 912 LSA - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 211 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL2 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2018 - Departed: GUP, Gallup, NM - Destination: ANK, Salida, CO - Airport: ANK, Salida Arpt Harriett Alexander, runway 06, 7,351 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 266 total, 166 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: 0V2, 1 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 20190529005399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190529005399A), May 29, 2019: Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, Salida, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft was emergency landed on 05/29/2019 at approximately 20:45 in a field southwest of Salida, CO airport (ank). Upon emergency landing in the field the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99519. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Record of Memorandum (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Memorandum (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Memorandum%20-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Memorandum (item 4, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 5, .PDF, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%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.