- Date
- July 20, 2019, 18:00 local (Jul 21, 2019, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Tracy, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N409EVEvektor Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Defining event
- Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190720018059A
- Case key
- 99909
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent emergency landing and collision with a tree.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while conducting the preflight inspection, he mistook the voltmeter for the fuel gauge. The first leg of his flight was uneventful; however, on the return flight, the engine started to sputter and then lost all power. He navigated toward a nearby airport, but when he realized that the airplane would not reach the airport, he chose to land on a field near the south end of the airport. During the landing, the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. 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, while conducting the preflight, he mistook the voltmeter for the fuel gauge. The first leg of his flight was uneventful, however, on the return flight, the engine started to sputter then experienced a total loss of power. He navigated toward a nearby airport. He noted that, as he approached the airport, it became apparent he would not make it to the airport. He then elected to land on a field near the south end of the airport. During landing the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N409EV
- Reported as
- Evektor Aerotechnik Sportstar (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 20050409
- Built
- 2005
- Engine
- Bombardier, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Sunshine Flyers
- Registered owner
- Michael E Duncan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- E16 · San Martin, CA
- Destination
- AUN · Auburn, CA
- Airport
- TCY · Tracy Muni
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- October 20, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 707.2 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- TCY
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N409EV · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.