# NTSB WPR25LA069: Sling Sling LSA, N519CV, Carson, CA, December 22, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 22, 2024, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Carson, CA - Coordinates: 33.854479, -118.26942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8545&lon=-118.2694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 199463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199463/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199463 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to conduct a prolonged slip against warnings specified in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sling SLING LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=06001CM), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sling SLING LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=06001CM), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Sling SLING LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=06001CM), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Sling SLING LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=06001CM), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl), he slipped the airplane to descend 1,100 ft to get to the traffic pattern altitude. After leveling off, he saw the fuel pressure drop. He checked to make sure that both fuel pumps were on. Shortly after, the airplane lost all fuel pressure and engine RPM. After troubleshooting, he was unable to restore engine power, and initiated a forced landing to a golf course, where the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the airplane, stated in part “the fuel lift pipe in the fuel tank is situated adjacent to the lower inside wall of the tank. The aircraft should at no time be subjected to a sustained side slip towards a near empty fuel tank (i.e. -right wing down) as, despite the baffling, this may have the consequence that the fuel runs towards the outer edge of the tank exposing the fuel pipe to suck air, thereby starving the engine of fuel leading to engine failure. This poses a particular threat when at low altitude, typically prior to landing.” The pilot did not initially report that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation; however, upon reviewing the recorded flight data with his chief flight instructor, that included the bank angle indicator, slip/skid indicator, and fuel pressure, the pilot concluded that the loss of power was likely from the left fuel lift pipe becoming exposed, starving the engine of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N519CV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N519CV), registered now, S/N 354, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SLING AIRCRAFT (PTY) LTD SLING LSA - Registry model: [Sling SLING LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/sling-sling-lsa) (registry code 06001CM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 354 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 2464.9 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sling Flying Club - Registered owner: Aviation Financial Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 9, 2024 - Departed: YOA, Torrence, CA - Airport: CPM, Compton-Woodley - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 448.3 total, 182.2 in this make and model, 357.2 as pilot in command, 176.4 in the last 90 days, 62.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KTOA, 5 nm away - METAR: KTOA 222347Z 29005KT 10SM SCT180 BKN250 17/12 A3008 ## 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 20241222020599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241222020599A), Dec 22, 2024: Sling Aircraft (Pty) Ltd SLING LSA, Carson, CA, Destroyed. On December 22, 2025, in the afternoon at approximately 3 pm, the pilot and passenger took off from torrance airport in [privacy data omitted], a Sling 2… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199463. 8.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 WPR25LA069 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18286465&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20form%201620%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18287607&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR25LA069_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email chief pilot conversation with the pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18286318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Review%20of%20G3X%20Data%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Pilot's operating handbook excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18285558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sling-LSA-Pilot-Operating-Handbook-Rev-1.2-03.12.2012%20Excerpt-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. --- 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.