# NTSB WPR26LA173: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N143AW, Salinas, CA, April 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 17, 2026, 17:00 local (Apr 18, 2026, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Coordinates: 36.667411, -121.61363
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6674&lon=-121.6136&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 2026
- 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): 202929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202929/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202929
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA173

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=06001C6), [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; cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=06001C6), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor and student pilot, they performed a preflight inspection which included viewing the visual fuel quantity indicators inside the cabin, which they observed the level to be full. The flight instructor reported that he did not check the fuel quantity by removing the fuel caps. After flying for about 39 minutes in the airport traffic pattern performing several takeoffs and landings, during an initial climb, the engine had a total loss of power about 250 ft above ground level. The flight instructor assumed the flight controls and chose an empty street near the airport to initiate a forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel, and the fuel system was intact with no evidence of leaks. The fuel sight gauges were a purple, transparent color, which would have likely made it difficult to see if fuel was present in the system. The pilot’s operating handbook indicated that fuel quantity should be checked both in the cabin and through the fuel cap on each wing during a preflight inspection.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N143AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N143AW), registered now, S/N 1030 AT 912 LSA, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER
- Registry model: [Pipistrel D O O ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-d-o-o-alpha-trainer) (registry code 056391M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1030 AT 912 LSA
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 381
- Engines: Rotax 912 UL 2-01 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 23, 2026
- Airport: SNS, Salinas Municipal Airport
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,843 total, 21 in this make and model, 1,705 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 164.8 total, 13.3 in this make and model, 13.5 as pilot in command, 15.2 in the last 90 days, 13.3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KSNS
- METAR: METAR KSNS 172353Z 29013G20KT 10SM CLR 20/M03 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02001028 10228 20178 55003=

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202929. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1- CFI (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20462879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1- student (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20463235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Student_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20525968&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20Flight%20Instructor_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, airport manager (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20462813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20Airport%20Manager_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� Textron (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20636204&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record,%20Textron_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's operating handbook excerpts (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20525865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook%20excerpts-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20463335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.pdf
- Summary of fuel system examination (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20491114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Fuel%20System%20Examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight data (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20525439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flysto%20data-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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