# NTSB LAX05LA115: Sukhoi SU-26, N226PS, Tucson, AZ, March 14, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2005, 13:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.409442, -111.21833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4094&lon=-111.2183&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61154 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61154/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA115 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a field following a loss of engine power. The airplane was equipped with one fuel tank, which held approximately 15.8 gallons of fuel, or about 30 minutes duration. While the pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers, the engine lost power and he force landed the airplane in a field. Emergency response personnel did not see or smell fuel at the accident scene. Approximately 1 quart of fuel was drained from the fuel tank. The engine was successfully test-run with no operational anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2005, about 1335 mountain standard time, a Sukhoi SU-26 experimental aerobatic airplane, N226PS, nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Marana Regional Airport, Tucson, Arizona. The private pilot, who was also the registered owner of the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported departing the Marana Regional Airport about 1315 for the local, personal, aerobatic flight. According to the pilot, he was performing aerobatic maneuvers when the loss of engine power occurred. The engine did not sputter or make any unusual noises. He turned towards the airport, but ended up landing the airplane short of the runway in a field; the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot departed with a full fuel quantity of 15.8 gallons. Emergency responders stated that there was no fuel spill at the accident site and that the odor of fuel was not present. Recovery personnel drained about 1 quart of fuel from the fuel tank. According to the airport manager, the airplane was topped off with 10.1 gallons of fuel at 1012, the morning of the accident. Airport personnel did not witness the airplane depart. The engine was test-run on April 8 in the presence of the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator. The installed propeller sustained damage during the accident sequence so a new propeller was installed. Using the airplane's fuel system, the engine was run to 1,200 rpm successfully. No operational anomalies were noted that would have precluded the engine from operating normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N226PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N226PS-2019-03-11), registration cancelled 2019-03-11, S/N 06-10, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sukhoi SU-26 - Registry model: [Sukhoi SU-26](https://openairdocs.org/model/sukhoi-su-26) (registry code 9850104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 06-10 - Airframe hours: 443.3 - Engines: Vedeneyez M-14 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shelby Futch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2004, 56 hours before - Departed: AVQ, Tucson, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 1, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 3,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: KTUS, 23 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 20050314010119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050314010119A), Mar 14, 2005: Sukhoi SU26, Marana, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 14, 2005, N226PS, a Sukhoi experimental acrobatic aircraft experienced engine problems while practicing landings at Marana airport. The pilot… 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.