# NTSB MIA94LA128: Keuthan Sabre II / S2A, N692KA, Merritt Island, FL, April 29, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1994, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Merritt Island, FL
- Coordinates: 28.320119, -80.680259 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3201&lon=-80.6803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37536
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37536/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA128

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHEN ENCOUNTERING A HEADWIND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND PILOT-RATED PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL.  ON RETURN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER THAN EXPECTED WINDS ALOFT, AND THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.  THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AND WHILE ROLLING TO A STOP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 1994, about 1345 eastern daylight time, N692KA, a homebuilt Sabre II crashed in Merritt Island, Florida, after experiencing an engine failure in flight, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The instructor pilot and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated at Titusville, Florida, at an unknown time.

The instructor pilot stated to the local law enforcement and the NTSB that they had encountered headwinds and ran out of fuel. The engine failed and they executed a forced landing to a field and hit a chain link fence and a tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N692KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N692KA-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N R2AK001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KEUTHAN SABRE II / S2A (SABRE II /)
- Registry model: [Keuthan Charles SABRE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/keuthan-charles-sabre-ii) (registry code 05620BZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: S2A-K001
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Keuthan, Charles
- Registered owner: Keuthan, Charles
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: TIT, TITUSVILLE, FL
- Airport: COI, Merritt Island

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,113 total, 50 in this make and model, 964 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 15 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 19940429009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940429009669A), Apr 29, 1994: Cocoa, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel. Struck fence and a tree on forced landing in a field.

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.

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