# NTSB WPR09LA071: PZL PZL-104 35A, N226PF, Oakland, CA, January 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 3, 2009, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Oakland, CA - Coordinates: 37.792221, -122.129165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7922&lon=-122.1292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73181/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73181 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA071 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [PZL PZL-104 WILGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0560679), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [PZL PZL-104 WILGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0560679), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: [PZL PZL-104 WILGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=0560679), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [PZL PZL-104 WILGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0560679), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a local personal flight, the engine lost power as a result of fuel exhaustion. During the forced landing, he maneuvered to avoid power lines and subsequently impacted trees. The pilot related that he thought he had enough fuel for a short local flight. Post accident, the pilot stated that he did not realize he had flown the airplane for more than 4 hours since it had been refueled. The airplane's fuel endurance is about 4 hours. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 3, 2009, about 1445 Pacific standard time, an experimental PZL, PZL-104-35A, Wilga, N226PF, impacted trees following a loss of engine power in Redwood Regional Park, Oakland, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Oakland about 1435. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that while maneuvering, the engine "ran out of gas just passed the western arm of the San Leondro Reservoir." He attempted a restart without success. During the descent, he saw power lines in front of him and he turned the airplane to the north. The airplane subsequently impacted trees. The pilot extricated himself from the wreckage and obtained transportation to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. The pilot thought he departed Oakland Airport with enough fuel for the local flight based on the readings of the two fuel gauges. On January 12, 2009, the pilot contacted the National Transportation Safety Board investigator in-charge (IIC) and related that he had researched the amount of flight time he had on the accident airplane since refueling it. The airplane was refueled on October 18, 2008, to maximum capacity. The pilot reported that he had flown a total of 4.1 hours since refueling. The airplane's fuel endurance was a little more than 4 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N226PF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N226PF-2009-06-26), registration cancelled 2009-06-26, S/N 15800567, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL PZL-104 35A (Wilga) - Registry model: [PZL PZL-104 WILGA](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-pzl-104-wilga) (registry code 0560679) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15800567 - Engines: Ivchenko A1-14RA 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2008 - Departed: OAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: OAK, Oakland, CA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: OAK, 6 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 20090103002009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090103002009A), Jan 3, 2009: Wsk PZL104, Oakland, CA, Destroyed. (-23) On January 3, 2009, about 1405 (PST) the pilot, [privacy data omitted] checked the fuel level indicators on the wing during pre-flight and noted one tank… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73181. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation- Thys (item 2, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Thys-Redacted.PDF 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.