# NTSB WPR12CA358: Boughner R 80 Tiger Moth, N615SX, Ramona, CA, August 14, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 14, 2012, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.036945, -116.909164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0369&lon=-116.9092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA358 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA358 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05618AO), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05618AO), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05618AO), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05618AO), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618AO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to the cross-country flight, which would require approximately six gallons of fuel to complete, he had seven gallons of fuel in the main fuel tank and five gallons in the auxiliary tank. The cross-country flight was uneventful; about 0.5 mile away from the airport, on the base leg, the airplane’s engine stopped developing power. The pilot reported he was unable to open the auxiliary tank valve in a timely manner before the airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 yards east of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that prior to the cross country flight, which would require approximately 6 gallons of fuel to complete; he had 7 gallons of fuel in the main fuel tank and 5 gallons in the auxiliary tank. The cross country flight was uneventful; about 0.5-miles away from the airport, on the base leg, the airplane’s engine stopped developing power. The pilot reported he was unable to open the auxiliary tank valve in a timely manner before the airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 yards east of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N615SX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N615SX-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N 14, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOUGHNER R 80 TIGER MOTH - Registry model: [Boughner Gerald O R 80 TIGER MOTH](https://openairdocs.org/model/boughner-gerald-o-r-80-tiger-moth) (registry code 05618AO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 14 - Airframe hours: 494 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Boughner Gerald O - Registered owner: Boughner Gerald O - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 23, 2011, 31 hours before - Departed: SDM, San Diego, CA - Destination: RNM, Ramona, CA - Airport: RNM, Ramona Airport, runway 27, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,777 total, 494 in this make and model, 4,742 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: RNM ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84673. 593 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.