# NTSB WPR11CA321: Leineke Walter L Thorp T-211, N2075U, Cedar City, UT, July 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2011, 13:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.701667, -113.109169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7017&lon=-113.1092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81067 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81067/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81067 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA321 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the fuel consumption, which lead to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident airplane. ## 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: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05614SS), [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: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614SS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was ferrying the homebuilt airplane to its new owner when the accident occurred. Having no prior time in the airplane, he flew it around the pattern to familiarize himself with the airplane's controls. The pilot stated that since he was not sure what the fuel burn of the airplane was he made an estimate using a similar aircraft with the same engine. After refueling the airplane to its 24 gallon maximum capacity, the pilot departed for the cross country flight to the destination airport. En route he climbed the airplane to 9,500 feet, leaned the mixture, and set the engine rpm to 2500. He estimated that the engine was using 4 to 4 1/2 gallons per hour, which by his calculations would give him 5 hours of flight time at that altitude. After 3.8 hours of flight, the pilot noticed the fuel gauge read 1/4 of a tank. About 6 minutes later, the engine lost power and the pilot initiated an off-airport landing. During the landing attempt, the airplane impacted a fence, struck the ground with its left wing, and tumbled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that the fuel gauge acted normally during flight, but remained between 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank even after the airplane ran out of gas. An inspection of the fuel gauge by a mechanic showed that the gauge was functional; however, the mechanic described the type of fuel gauge as typically being difficult to calibrate and that they tend to only read accurately when the tank is full. Examination of the airplane's fuel tanks showed they were empty and the fuel system was intact. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was tasked with ferrying the homebuilt airplane to its new owner. Having no prior time in the airplane, he flew it around the pattern to familiarize himself with the airplane's controls. The pilot stated that since he was not sure what the fuel burn of the airplane was he made an estimate using a similar aircraft with the same engine. After refueling the airplane to its 24 gallon maximum capacity, the pilot took off for the cross country to the destination airport. En route he climbed the airplane up to 9,500 feet, leaned the mixture, and set the engine RPM to 2500. He estimated that the engine was using 4 to 4 1/2 gallons per hour, which by his calculations would give him 5 hours of flight time at that altitude. After 3.8 hours of flight, the pilot noticed the fuel gauge read 1/4th of a tank. About 6 minutes later, the engine quit and the pilot was forced to initiate an off airport forced landing. During the landing attempt, the pilot hit a fence which caused the airplane to impact the ground with its left wing and tumble. The airplane suffered substantial damage to both wings and part of the fuselage. The pilot stated that the fuel gauge acted normally during flight, but remained between 1/8th to 1/4th of a tank even after the airplane ran out of gas. An inspection of the fuel gauge by an A&P mechanic showed that the gauge was functional; however, the mechanic described the type of fuel gauge as typically being difficult to calibrate and that they tend to only read accurately when the tank is full. Examination of the airplane's fuel tanks showed they were empty and the fuel system was intact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2075U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2075U-2011-11-15), registration cancelled 2011-11-15, S/N 08 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LEINEKE WALTER L THORP T-211 - Registry model: [Leineke Walter L THORP T-211](https://openairdocs.org/model/leineke-walter-l-thorp-t-211) (registry code 05614SS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-a) (registry code 17191, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 08 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Randal S Dippold - Registered owner: Charles Lee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 13, 2011, 2 hours before - Departed: KCXP, Carson City, NV - Destination: KCOC, Cedar City, UT - Airport: CDC, Cedar City ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 7 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20110710015069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110710015069A), Jul 10, 2011: Leineke Walter L THORP T-211, Cedar City, UT, Destroyed. Pilot was contracted to delever the aircraft from carson city, NV to atlanta , GA.fixed an oil line prior to departure, topped fuel 19.1 gal. Flight at 10,500… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81067. 408 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.