# NTSB WPR23LA051: Cosmos Phase II, N254DW, Lake Havasu, AZ, November 26, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 26, 2022, 10:00, time zone not recorded
- Place: Lake Havasu, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.364534, -114.16056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3645&lon=-114.1606&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 106395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106395/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106395
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA051

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent landing on rough terrain.

## 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: [Cosmos PHASE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=059003U), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=059003U), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=059003U), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=059003U), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cosmos PHASE II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=059003U), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the weight-shift aircraft reported that, he was out for a pleasure flight and ran out of fuel and was forced to land on desert terrain. During the landing, the aircraft collided with vegetation which substantially damaged the fuselage. The pilot reported that a better preflight would have prevented this accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N254DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N254DW-2023-03-23), registration cancelled 2023-03-23, S/N 91127, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COSMOS PHASE II
- Registry model: [Cosmos PHASE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/cosmos-phase-ii) (registry code 059003U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: 91127
- Year built: 2001
- Engines: Rotax 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: KHII, Lake Havasu City, AZ
- Destination: KHII, Lake Havasu City, AZ
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 210 total, 60 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KEED, 17 nm away
- METAR: METAR KEED 261756Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM CLR 12/M07 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP204 T01171072 10117 20039 58001 $

## 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 20221126020679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221126020679A), Nov 26, 2022: Cosmos PHASE II, Lake Havasu, AZ, Substantial damage. Lake Havasu City, AZ: [privacy data omitted]cosmo, crashed due to unknown circumstances off the edge of highway 95 at milepost 166. **update: pilot reported…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106395. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14837291&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20WPR23LA051%20R-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14977033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20pilot%20Ronald%20Roberts-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14803329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20WPR23LA051-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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