# NTSB GAA19CA361: Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast Sport, N418RB, Ledgedale, PA, June 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 17, 2019, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Ledgedale, PA - Coordinates: 41.391109, -75.331665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3911&lon=-75.3317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA361 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99674/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99674 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA361 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in the precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633S8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before the flight, he added 4.5 gallons of fuel to the 12-gallon fuel tank and that, while flying at a high-density altitude, "it never occurred to…[him to] monitor fuel consumption for the 80-mile flight." About 1 hour 25 minutes into the flight, the engine sputtered, and the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. He then obtained fuel and added it to the airplane and subsequently attempted to take off, but after the airplane climbed about 2 ft, the landing gear entered tall grass, which got caught on the main landing gear wheels. The airplane then abruptly stopped and flipped over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while flying at a high-density altitude, "it never occurred to me to monitor fuel consumption for the 80-mile flight." The engine sputtered and the pilot made an emergency landing. He landed in a field, and secured fuel for the airplane and subsequently attempted to takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a "rut" in the surface, and he aborted the takeoff. The pilot attempted another takeoff in an area that provided more useable space to perform the takeoff roll, but the airplane climbed about 2ft and the landing gear entered the tall grass and the airplane abruptly nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N418RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N418RB-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 0303, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast Sport (2S) - Registry model: [Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-aircraft-northeast-sport-2s) (registry code 0563380) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0303 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 70.96 - Engines: ROTAX 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2018 - Departed: MGJ, Montgomery, NY - Destination: VAP, Wilkes-Barre/Sc, PA - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 468 total, 81 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KLBE, 11 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 20190617019139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190617019139A), Jun 17, 2019: Quicksilver Aircraft Northeast SPORT 2S, Ledgedale, PA, Substantial damage. During a flight from mgj to avp the aircrafts engine started sputtering and the pilot made a precautionary landing in a large field without incident. The pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99674. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.