# NTSB WPR14CA388: Lundak Robert Kitfox IV, N99FL, Sonoma, CA, September 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2014, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Sonoma, CA - Coordinates: 38.223056, -122.358886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2231&lon=-122.3589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA388 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA388 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management which resulted in an engine failure due to fuel starvation and subsequent collision with power lines during the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056201A), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that about 10 minutes after departing, with the airplane configured for cruise flight at about 2,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a loss of power. The airplane began to descend and the pilot spotted a road to perform an emergency landing. Around 750 feet agl the pilot then turned on the fuel wing tank valves, but the engine failed to restart. The road became obscured by trees due to an s-bend and as he descended closer, he observed a vehicle ahead. As he turned away from the road, the airplane struck power lines that were along the road. The airframe structure was substantially damaged. The pilot later stated that he believed that the engine experienced a loss of power due to the fuel valves being off on the wing tanks. The system was designed as such that each wing tank had a shut off valve prior to the fuel reaching a five gallon header tank. He thought it was likely that the airplane was able to depart and be in cruise for the 10 minute duration by exhausting all of the fuel that was in the header tank. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that about 10 minutes after departing, with the airplane configured for cruise flight at about 2,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a loss of power. The airplane began to descend and the pilot spotted a road to perform an emergency landing. Around 750 feet agl the pilot then turned on the fuel wing tank valves, but the engine failed to restart. The road became obscured by trees due to an s-bend and as he descended closer, he observed a vehicle ahead. As he turned away from the road, the airplane struck power lines that were along the road. The airframe structure was substantially damaged.The pilot later stated that he believed that the engine experienced a loss of power due to the fuel valves being off on the wing tanks. The system was designed as such that each wing tank had a shut off valve prior to the fuel reaching a five gallon header tank. He thought it was likely that the airplane was able to depart and be in cruise for the 10 minute duration by exhausting all of the fuel that was in the header tank. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99FL-2015-04-13), registration cancelled 2015-04-13, S/N 1570, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUNDAK ROBERT KITFOX IV (IV) - Registry model: [Lundak Robert KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/lundak-robert-kitfox-iv) (registry code 056201A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1570 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 601 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 13, 2014 - Departed: 0Q9, SONOMA, CA - Destination: HWD, HAYWARD, CA - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: serious; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review December 23, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 19,302 total, 600 in this make and model, 14,077 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20140924019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140924019919A), Sep 24, 2014: Lundak Robert KITFOX IV, Sonoma, CA, Substantial damage. Experimental amateur built Kitfox - N99FL - s/n: 1570 struck power lines and crashed into an open grass strip between 2 vineyards in the [privacy data… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90156. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419716&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.