# NTSB LAX07CA205: Saunders Stiletto, N337DS, Quartzsite, AZ, July 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2007, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Quartzsite, AZ - Coordinates: 33.633335, -113.76667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6333&lon=-113.7667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA205 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection during which he failed to insure security of the fuel tank's cap. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,cap - not secured (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - vehicle ## Analysis Fuel exhaustion occurred during cruise flight, and the airplane collided with a vehicle on a highway during the ensuing forced landing. Earlier during the day the pilot had landed to refuel. Prior to taking off he had not confirmed that the right wing's fuel tank cap was secured. While flying en route, no evidence of any mechanical malfunction was noted prior to experiencing the sudden loss of all engine power. The pilot reported that he subsequently inspected his airplane and observed that the right wing's fuel tank cap was missing. The pilot stated that fuel in the tank had evidently ported overboard during flight. He indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better preflight inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2007, about 1630 mountain standard time, a Saunders Stiletto, N337DS, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight and the pilot made a forced landing on Interstate Highway 10, about 25 miles east of Quartzsite, Arizona. During flare, the experimental homebuilt airplane impacted a vehicle and was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Chandler, Arizona, about 1545. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that earlier during the day his airplane had been serviced with fuel at Chandler. The pilot stated that he did not confirm that the right wing's fuel cap had been secured prior to taking off on the accident flight. While flying en route, no evidence of any mechanical malfunction was noted. Suddenly, all engine power was lost and the pilot made a forced landing on the highway. The airplane impacted a vehicle during landing. The pilot reported that he subsequently inspected his airplane and observed that the right wing's fuel cap was missing. The pilot stated that fuel in the tank had evidently ported overboard during flight. The pilot indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better preflight inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N337DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N337DS), registered now, S/N 001, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Saunders Stiletto - Registry model: [Saunders Don B STILETTO R G](https://openairdocs.org/model/saunders-don-b-stiletto-r-g) (registry code 05601GP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Engines: Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Oertel - Registered owner: William R. Oertel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: CNO, Chino, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,034 total, 264 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 120 °F ## 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 20070705014169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070705014169A), Jul 5, 2007: Amtr STILETTORG, Quartzsite, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] requested to be fueled at the chandler airport prior to his departure on July 5, 2007. His passenger is a pilot and… 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.