The pilot reported that, during preflight, he added five gallons of gasoline to the vintage Sky Raider’s fuel tank. He also measured out the two-cycle engine oil that was to be premixed with the gasoline, then set it aside.
Shortly after takeoff from the airport in Nampa, Idaho, and while in the traffic pattern, the engine lost power.
The pilot initiated a forced landing in an open field, where the airplane hit tall grass and nosed over, substantially damaging the left wing.
Upon returning to the hangar, the pilot saw the oil he had set aside and realized he had not added it to the gasoline.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power due to the pilot’s failure to premix the two-cycle oil/gasoline mixture, which resulted in a forced landing in a field and collision with terrain.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This June 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Things like this are great examples of why we must always be vigilant about forgetting something important. Stack the deck in your favor and never leave something in a state that it needs interacting with for it to be safe for flight. Even if I plan on adding fuel or oil after preflight, I still put the fuel caps on after checking fuel quantity and oil dipstick goes back in after checking oil quantity. Towbars are never left hooked up, even if I’m going to need it again in a minute.
Simple things like that may make for a little more work, but at the end of the day I won’t cause damage to the plane I’m flying or to myself.
I’ve never flown in a plane that I had to mix oil into the gas, and I’ve never been around a Sky Raider either, so I have a hard time understanding why would gas be added without the oil already mixed in?
I’ve ran 2-stroke engines a lot on trimmers, chainsaws, etc. I always put the oil into the fuel can first, then add the gas. It’s much easier to look in the can and see the oil in there before you add the gas to confirm you didn’t forget it, compared to seeing the oil once it already has the gas in it. Besides, even if you forget that you already added the oil, the engine will still run with double the oil, although I expect the exhaust would make a nice smoke trail.
It was “Flying K Sky Raider”. The way it was initially worded was to get your attention. Apparently it worked well because it got my attention too!
Jeez….if a plane built in 2000 is “vintage”…what does that make ME?
Although, I will admit, when I first read it was a “vintage Sky Raider 1”, I did have a ‘senior moment’ and assumed he meant a Sky Raider, the A-1 variety, and thought what an idiot he was for assuming 5 gallons of gas was going to get him very far…
One thing I notice consistently is our ability to mock people for the stupid things they do (or don’t do). Remember the old saying, “there, but for the grace of God, go I”. Checklists, standing back and eyeballing, and never being in a hurry will pay off. Safe flying!
So, who forgets to use pre-mix in their chainsaw or string trimmer , let alone an aircraft with a 2-stroke engine.??
This aircraft is an ultra-light, so anyone can go fly one…. like this guy did.!
A 51 year old, student pilot with 500 hours… give it up.
I hope that he now sticks to a bicycle, or lawn tractor…!!
No worse than all the other pilot caused malfunctions.
Scott:
You are correct. That’s why we have checklists, and work hard at remembering how we trap our own errors…
Omg more people should be assigned for checking that
I retired from airline flying at 60 as required. All was well and I bought a single engine airplane. I flew it safely for many hours, but after my 70th birthday, I decided to sell it. I didn’t want to forget something important. I really miss it, but I believe I made the correct decision. After flying airplanes for 50 years, I might have been pushing my luck.
No, sir. I’ve more than 5 years than You, Mr. Jerry Smith.
But, now, I’ve to read, hear and see much more about aviation (and specially the type I flight) be more proficient, check things two or three times and, most of the times (nowadays if not ever), accompanied by other pilot (or even an availablei instructor in the seat on my right.
I’ll soon be 83 and just completed my biannual check ride with the CFI saying I fly as well or better than his other customers. However, at 82, I’m not comfortable flying other than solo unless I have another rated pilot in the right seat. My wife still flies with me but I don’t take anyone else, although I have no health issues nor do I take any meds. My dilemma is how do I know when it’s time to give it up and I’ve searched for that answer without success? Perhaps the insurance company will eventually make that decision for me but so far they have not?