Pilot Debrief

QUARTZ MOUNTAIN AEROSPACE L-11E near Omaha, NE — 2018-01-24

Final reportCEN18LA085
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Date
2018-01-24
Location
Omaha, NE, USA
Airport
MLE
Aircraft
QUARTZ MOUNTAIN AEROSPACE L-11E
Registration
N515BW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The instructor pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

During an instructional flight, the two pilots—an airline transport pilot giving instruction and a commercial pilot receiving instruction—flew to two airports and made an instrument approach at each airport. Upon returning to the pilots' home airport and while on another instrument approach, the engine lost all power. The pilot giving instruction assumed control of the airplane and made a forced landing in a school baseball field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees and a fence, causing substantial damage to a wing spar. During a postaccident examination, a total of ½ gallon of fuel was drained from both tanks. The airplane's fuel capacity was 42 gallons, of which 40 gallons was usable. The airplane had been serviced with fuel several days before the accident, and the service technician estimated that 34 gallons of fuel was on board the airplane at the beginning of the accident flight. The pilot giving instruction reported that he had visually verified that the airplane was "full of fuel" before the flight, and he expected that there would be enough fuel for 4 hours of flight. The pilot giving instruction planned 3 hours of flight time, and the airplane's Hobbs meter indicated 3.1 hours of flight time.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Properly assess fuel levels before departure to ensure adequate supply for the flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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