# NTSB MIA98LA224: Lesemann Pulsar XP, N701JL, Fort Pierce, FL, August 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1998, 11:22 local (15:22 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.44061, -80.319068 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4406&lon=-80.3191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43696/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management during a cross country flight which resulted in a total loss of engine power during the approach for landing and subsequent in-flight collision with wires and terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,static - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot departed on a VFR cross-country flight. While on approach at the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched the fuel selector valve from its original position at takeoff to the opposite tank, and attempted an engine restart with negative results. He maneuvered the airplane to avoid a collision with high voltage lines, and to line up with a road that he selected as a forced landing area. The left wing collided with a tree, the airplane continued forward, and collided with an electrical line. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane collided with the terrain and nosed over inverted. Postcrash examination revealed fuel in the left tank and no fuel in the right tank. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1998, about 1122 eastern daylight time, a Lesemann Pulsar XP experimental airplane, N701JL, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, registered to a private owner, crashed on approach for landing at the St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight departed Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, 2 hours 2 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was straight and level on final approach to runway 32 at 1,000 feet when he experienced a total loss of engine power. He switched the fuel selector valve from the right main fuel tank to the left main fuel tank. The engine did not start. He maneuvered the airplane to the left to clear high voltage lines and attempted to make a forced landing to a road in a residential area. The left wing collided with a tree, the airplane continued forward and collided with a powerline to a house. The airplane pitched nose down, collided with the terrain, and nosed over inverted. The right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank contained fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701JL-1998-10-28), registration cancelled 1998-10-28, S/N 701 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lesemann PULSAR XP - Registry model: [Lesemann Jack J PULSAR XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/lesemann-jack-j-pulsar-xp) (registry code 05603PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 701 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: Bombardier 912-UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jack R. Lesemann - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1998, 48 hours before - Departed: MYAM, MARSH HARBOR, OF - Destination: FPR, FL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,020 total, 85 in this make and model, 2,133 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 2 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 19980813020669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980813020669A), Aug 13, 1998: Amtr PULSAR, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine failure, pilot attempted to make an emergency landing on a road, acft struck a guideline.(.4) on August 13, 1998, about 1122 eastern… 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.