# NTSB LAX94LA380: Singer Kitfox IV, N93CM, Apple Valley, CA, September 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 1994, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Apple Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.569103, -117.15055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5691&lon=-117.1505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA380 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28874/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA380 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to departure, and his inaccurate en route fuel consumption calculations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, emergency descent/landing - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE REFUELED PRIOR TO TAKING OFF FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. EN ROUTE, HE OBSERVED THE FUEL TANK SIGHT GAGES AND BELIEVED THEY INDICATED OVER 2 HOURS OF FUEL REMAINED. AFTER FLYING FOR 2.2 HOURS, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD AND, DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH BRUSH AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE HAD BUILT THE AIRPLANE, AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. HE STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN 'OVERLY ENTHUSED' WITH THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE'S PERFORMANCE. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 1994, at 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Singer Kitfox IV, N93CM, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Apple Valley, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road. During rollout, the airplane collided with brush and nosed over. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight which originated from Bullhead City, Arizona, at 0745. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1, he reported that while cruising en route he observed the fuel gages (sight tubes). He believed they indicated over 2 hours of fuel remained in the tanks. The pilot further reported that he continued flying and after about 2.2 hours the engine stopped. He then made the forced landing. The pilot further stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures occurred. In pertinent part, the pilot made the following statement in response to the question "How could this accident have been prevented? "I believed the fuel consumption rate was 3.5 gallons per hour. Obviously, the rate was higher in cross-country cruise. I should have refueled at Bullhead City. As the builder/pilot, I was overly enthused with (the anticipated) aircraft and engine performance." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93CM), registered now, S/N 1811, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SINGER KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Singer Tom KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/singer-tom-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05624HW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1811 - Airframe hours: 57 - Engines: ROTAX 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas G. Singer - Registered owner: Thomas G. Singer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1994, 57 hours before - Departed: IFP, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - Destination: APV, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 57 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 20 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19940912035379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940912035379A), Sep 12, 1994: Amtrdf KITFOX, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power at cruise. Nosed over during forced landing. Pilot reporetd misjudged fuel burn. Failed refuel en route. 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.