# NTSB GAA19CA495: Flight Design CT2K, N433CT, Hooper, WA, August 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 16, 2019, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Hooper, WA - Coordinates: 46.672779, -118.136665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6728&lon=-118.1367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA495 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100093/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100093 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA495 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, an off-airport landing to a field, and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0600002), [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: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0600002), [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: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Flight Design CT2K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, 1 hour after takeoff, turbulence was getting bad, so he decided to return to the departure airport. Subsequently, the airplane ran out of fuel, and he made an off-airport landing in an open field. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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, one hour en route to the destination airport, the turbulence was getting bad, so he decided to return to the departure airport. Subsequently, the airplane ran out of fuel and he made an off-airport landing in an open field. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N433CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N433CT), registered now, S/N 02.08.04.33, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Flight Design CT2K (No Series) - Registry model: [Flight Design CT2K](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ct2k) (registry code 0600002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 02.08.04.33 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 583 - Engines: ROTAX 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2018 - Departed: 16W, Starbuck, WA - Destination: WA14, Connell, WA - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,600 total, 35.5 in this make and model, 29.5 in the last 90 days, 21.2 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KALW, 35 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 20190816023519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190816023519A), Aug 16, 2019: Flight Design Gmbh CT2K, Hooper, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was participating in the Washington passport program, where they fly to all the airports and receive a stamp. The pilot sated he didn?t plan correctly,… ## Other investigations on N433CT (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN09CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA305), May 13, 2009: Flight Design CT2K (N433CT), Mitchell, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting winds during landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100093. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 829 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476876&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.