# NTSB WPR10LA150: Muffett Quickslvr Sprnt II, N6233V, Buena, WA, March 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 2010, 16:53 local (Mar 4, 2010, 00:53 UTC) - Place: Buena, WA - Coordinates: 46.443054, -120.340835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4431&lon=-120.3408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75436/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75436 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA150 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the student pilot’s inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05623C5), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05623C5), [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: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05623C5), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05623C5), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05623C5), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he had been performing touch-and-go practice takeoff and landings at a private airstrip. After approximately 10 landings, he taxied the airplane back to the parking area where he met with the former owner of the airplane and discussed the flight. After a short conversation, the pilot taxied to the end of the runway and departed to the east. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power and he attempted to land in a nearby field. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing assembly. The pilot attributed the loss of engine power to a lack of fuel, stating that the airplane's fuel supply was exhausted. The former owner of the airplane, who also witnessed the accident, responded to the accident site and reported observing no fuel in the fuel tank, lines, or filter. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 2010, at 1653 Pacific standard time, an experimental Muffett Quicksilver Sprint II, N6233V, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing shortly after takeoff from the Buena Airport, Buena, Washington. The airplane, which is owned by the student pilot, was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Buena. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 5, 2010, the student pilot stated he was practicing touch-and-go landings at the private airstrip. After approximately 10 landings, the pilot taxied the airplane back to the parking area where he met with a friend (the former owner of the airplane) and discussed the flight. After a short conversation the pilot taxied to the departure end of the runway and departed to the east. He reported that shortly after takeoff the engine lost power and he attempted to land in a nearby field. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing assembly. The pilot attributed the loss of engine power to a lack of fuel, stating that the airplane simply ran out of gas. An acquaintance of the pilot (and former owner of the airplane) reported that he heard the airplane takeoff. He reported that during the initial climb, approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), he heard the airplane's engine "quit" and looked up to see the airplane in a “stalling descent.” He reported that approximately 80 feet agl the airplane “broke over” and collided with terrain in a nose-low attitude. The acquaintance went to the accident site to assist the pilot. He reported that while at the site, he observed no fuel in the fuel tank, lines or filter. He further reported that the student pilot had run out of fuel on two previous occasions. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator Report, Form 6120.1. Multiple attempts to contact the pilot following the March 5 telephone conversation were not successful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6233V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6233V-2023-03-04), registration cancelled 2023-03-04, S/N 1992 SPRINT 395, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MUFFETT QUICKSLVR SPRNT II - Registry model: [Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR SPRNT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/muffett-pat-quickslvr-sprnt-ii) (registry code 05623C5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1992 SPRINT 395 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael E. Albertson - Registered owner: Registration Pending - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: WA97, Buena, WA - Destination: WA97, Buena, WA - Airport: WA97, Buena, runway 10, 2,600 × 120 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: YKM, 11 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 20100303028759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100303028759A), Mar 3, 2010: Muffett Pat QUICKSLVR S, Zillah, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot [privacy data omitted] had been working with his instructor and elected to do one last takeoff and landings solo. Albertson stated he ran out of gas… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75436. 13 KB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-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.