# NTSB WPR21LA146: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 Sierra, N656DF, Watsonville, CA, March 28, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 28, 2021, 14:00 UTC
- Place: Watsonville, CA · Airport
- Coordinates: 36.935722, -121.78963 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9357&lon=-121.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102824
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102824/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102824
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA146

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## 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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0600006), [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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0600006), [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: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during takeoff, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck power lines, nosed over, and impacted terrain. The fuselage and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the reason for the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N656DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N656DF-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 355, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P2002 SIERRA
- Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p2002-sierra) (registry code 0600006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 355
- Year built: 2008
- Engines: Rotax 912 99 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Airways Inc
- Registered owner: Airways Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: WVI, Watsonville Muni, runway 200, 4,501 × 149 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 22, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 140 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KWVI
- METAR: KWVI 212053Z AUTO 24007KT 10SM CLR 16/08 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP242 T01610083 58011

## 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 20210328005789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210328005789A), Mar 28, 2021: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Watsonville, CA (wvi): N656DF, lightsport, costruzini aeronautiche tecna, pilotreported engine issue, lost power and ran into power lines approx 2 miles s…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102824. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12199094&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12198860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20146-Rel.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.

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