# NTSB WPR09CA181: Max A Boesiger Jr Pulsar, N610RJ, Riddle, ID, April 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 5, 2009, 22:45 local (Apr 6, 2009, 04:45 UTC) - Place: Riddle, ID - Coordinates: 42.166667, -116.099998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1667&lon=-116.1000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA181 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's becoming lost and disoriented. Contributing to the accident was fatigue, as reported by the pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05605ET), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot made a 1 hour 20 minute flight to a private strip in the morning, and expected to be working there for a few hours. His work ended up lasting all day, and he did not depart until sundown. He stated that he was very tired and anxious to get home. His panel-mounted global positioning satellite system (GPS) was not internally lit, and after getting airborne he discovered that a flashlight that he kept in the airplane for this purpose did not work. Rather than return to the departure airport for another light, he decided to travel north until he intersected Interstate 84, where he could turn west and follow it home. He saw an intersection approaching, turned west, and gave no further thought to navigation. He was 5,000 feet above ground level (agl) and stated that he could not be sure that this was the proper highway to follow. He noted that he was so tired that he forgot that he had a handheld GPS in his backpack that was internally lit. He noticed that the highway turned south, so he continued west thinking that he would pick it up again when it turned back to the north. About 30 minutes later, the pilot realized that he had been following the wrong road. He became very disoriented and turned north attempting to locate a town that he could recognize. He then used his cell phone to light up the face of the panel-mounted GPS, discovered that he was 150 miles from Boise, Idaho, and turned toward it. About 10 minutes later, he realized that he did not have enough fuel to make it to Boise or even the next closest airport. He continued on toward Boise hoping that he would find a road or clear place to land. At an altitude of 4,000 feet agl, the engine lost power. He saw no traffic on any road to help find a landing spot. He was in an extremely remote area and only saw three lights on the ground that were about 1/2-mile apart. He landed on rough terrain near a house, and all three landing gear sheared off at touchdown. ## Factual narrative The pilot made a 1 hour 20 minute flight to a private strip in the morning, and expected to be working there for a few hours. His work ended up lasting all day, and he did not depart until sundown. He stated that he was very tired and anxious to get home. His panel mounted global positioning satellite system (GPS) was not internally lit, and after getting airborne he discovered that a flashlight that he kept in the airplane for this purpose did not work. Rather than return to the departure airport for another light, he decided to travel north until he intersected Interstate 84, where he could turn west and follow it home. He saw the intersection approaching, turned west, and gave no further thought to navigation. He was 5,000 feet above ground level (agl), and stated that he could not be sure that this was the proper highway to follow. He noted that he was so tired that he forgot that he had a handheld GPS in his backpack that was internally lit. He noticed that the highway turned south, so he continued west thinking that he would pick it up again when it turned back to the north. About 30 minutes later, the pilot realized that he had been following the wrong road. He became very disoriented and turned north attempting to locate a town that he could recognize. He then used his cell phone to light up the face of the panel mounted GPS, discovered that he was 150 miles from Boise, Idaho, and turned toward it. About 10 minutes later, he realized that he did not have enough fuel to make it to Boise. A quick check revealed that he did not have enough fuel to make it to Wells, Nevada, which was the next closest airport. He continued on toward Boise hoping that he would find a road or clear place to land. At an altitude of 4,000 feet agl, the engine lost power. He saw no traffic on any road to help find a landing spot. He was in an extremely remote area, and only saw three lights on the ground that were about 1/2 mile apart. During the descent, he reminded himself repeatedly to maintain 15 miles per hour above the stall speed, and fly it to the ground rather than stall. Prior to landing, he had just enough airspeed to dodge a power pole and overhead power lines just seconds before he was about to collide with them. He land on rough terrain near a house, and all three landing gear sheared off at touchdown. The airplane slid about 100 feet before colliding with an old shed near the house. He walked about 50 feet to the house, but no one was home, so he walked to the next home 1/2-mile away to report the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N610RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N610RJ-2013-01-30), registration cancelled 2013-01-30, S/N P97060532, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Max A Boesiger Jr Pulsar - Registry model: [Boesiger Max A JR PULSAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/boesiger-max-a-jr-pulsar) (registry code 05605ET) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: P97060632 - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Rotax 912S 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Max A Boesiger, Jr - Registered owner: Max A Boesiger, Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2009, 5 hours before - Departed: Lucine, UT - Destination: UEL, Caldwell, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 424 total, 324 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KTWF, 89 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 20090405003729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090405003729A), Apr 5, 2009: Amtr PULSAR, Riddle, ID, Destroyed. (-23) At about 8:30 pm April 5th the pilot departed a private airfield located at the lucin VOR (lcu) in Utah for a return flight to caldwell (eul), ID. With… 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.