- Date
- September 20, 2019, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N212DXDiamond DA20
- Defining event
- Approach: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 17, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190920014519A
- Case key
- 100333
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 preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and impact with a tree during an off-airport landing.
Findings · 4
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 for the first flight of the day, the fuel was at the bottom of the 1/2 mark on the wood dipstick, and the gauge also reflected the same fuel level. He added that, before taking off for the accident flight, which was the fourth flight that day, he checked the fuel gauge, and it was showing right above 1/4 tank. The pilot reported that, while on approach to land, the engine sputtered and lost all power. He retracted the flaps to extend the glide distance, but the airplane was unable to reach the runway. He then conducted an off-airport landing on a service road. Upon landing, the airplane veered left and impacted a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane reported that only about 16 ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel system, and no fuel leaks were found.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while on approach to land, the engine sputtered and had a complete loss of power. He retracted the flaps to extend the glide distance but was unable to make the runway. He then made an off-airport landing, on a service road between two buildings. Upon landing the airplane veered left and impacted a tree. The pilot further reported that, while conducting the preflight inspection, the fuel was at the bottom of the 1/2 mark on the diamond wood dipstick and the gauge also reflected the fuel level. During the accident flight, he again checked the fuel gauge and noticed it was showing right above 1/4 tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane reported that, in total only about 16 ounces of fuel was drained from the airplane fuel system and no fuel leaks were identified.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N212DX
- Reported as
- Diamond DA20 (C1)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- C0275
- Built
- 2004
- Engine
- Continental IO-240 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed
- SMD · Fort Wayne, IN
- Destination
- SMD · Fort Wayne, IN
- Airport
- SMD · Smith Field, runway 23, 3,126 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 14, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 60 total · 59 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KGWB, 10 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 927 KB 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.