The private pilot stated that, prior to departure of the cross-country flight in the Yak 55M, he performed a preflight inspection, which included using a dipstick to check the fuel quantity, though he later reported miscalculating the amount that was on-board.
The flight departed with what he thought was 15 gallons of fuel for the intended 30-minute flight, but when he was about five miles from the intended destination, the fuel pressure gauge decreased to 0 psi and the engine lost power rapidly.
He told investigators that both fuel quantity gauges indicated near 0 at the moment of the loss of engine power.
He realized he would be unable to land at his intended destination due to the airplane’s altitude and distance from it, so he performed an off-airport forced landing near Waldo, Florida.
The airplane touched down in a shallow ditch adjacent to a road and nosed over during the landing roll.
Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage adjacent to the left main landing gear attach point, while the pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
During recovery of the airplane no fuel was noted in the wing fuel tanks and a post-accident examination revealed no fuel in the fuel service tank. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot exhausted the airplane’s fuel supply, which resulted in the total loss of engine power.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and the subsequent off-airport landing.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This September 2022 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.
I don’t know what is worse, this level in carelessness and incompetency displayed by this pilot, or this asinine belief in the GA community of only putting “just enough fuel” for the flight. These are not turbine transport aircraft where careful performance computations must be made to account for balanced field operations, climb gradient, enroute cruise altitude and landing performance. In this small aircraft, with one occupant, there is almost ZERO reason for not completely topping off for each flight. The one mentioned excuse was that he wanted the airplane “light” for aerobatics, and that is not a believable excuse as he was just trying to fly 30 mins.
My rule, is to top of the main tanks, every single time I fly. Every time. If I don’t have the performance for that, I download people and or cargo. After refueling, I look in the tanks with the cap removed and visually verify the amount of fuel. That way there is zero doubt.
These accidents are just plain STUPID. And we all pay the price. GA is going to die due to overcast if the crap doesn’t stop. Who was this guy’s CFI? What the hell did he get taught? WTH?
Thinking a 360hp engine would use 15 gph would be evidence of the poor guys’ knowledge of aircraft, or lack of same.
Glad he survived. Hope he learns.
Aren’t all the safety seminars pretty much due to pilots repetitively making the same fairly common sense errors?
Pretty much.!! We know most of the ways our aircraft try to kill us, including what the pilot does, or fails to do.
I wouldn’t take off in my Cessna with only 15 gallons of fuel !!
How many car drivers would leave home with only 1 hour of fuel, about 2 gallons ?
I would guess almost none!
But the FAA allows for 30 minutes of fuel on landing at our destination…Dumb.!
I think the way you do gas is cheaper than crashing a plane. I always check the amount fuel in the tanks and when. I turn the switch on to start the engine l look at the fuel gauge to see if reading the same as I looked in the tank.
Its always easy to criticize when you have the opportunity of hindsight. Yes he ran out of fuel but flying acrobatics he wanted to be light for maximum performance. We can all learn from his mistake and yes I am sure he learnt a lot too. Ive made my share of mistakes and by reading Safety Management System reports many pilots have too. My point is we can all make errors and we all make errors. Derogatory remarks serve no purpose other than to hide the small errors being reported which can ultimately lead to bigger errors
I can’t really determine just where I should lad my comment…or what I’m actually responding to – nonetheless, isn’t this all sort of the thing you learn as a kid…when you run out of gas you car won’t go…
Well how much time did he fly that aircraft ? How many aircraft is he endorsed in ?
FUEL LEFT ON GROUND IS NO HELP WHEN YOUR UP IN AIR.
MY VIEW INSURANCE SHOULD NOT BE PAID TO HIM or OWNER of the aircraft, that why INSURANCE is so expensive.
I don’t believe, nor ACCEPT, any reason, defense, explanation or abivalent ‘shrug’ after exhausting the fuel supply…prior to reaching the ntended destination.
‘Running out of gas’ is GRANDMOL STUPIDITY !
I believe ANY pilot who demonstrates that level of stupidity DESERVES to proscuted, convicted, jailed, mandated for reimbursement for ALL expenses related to ‘his’ stupidity.
Further, his ‘privileges’ should be suspended…if not…revoked.
ANY pilot who is not smart enough to manage his fuel system / fuel load…is NOT smart enough to command an aircraft.
I have no sympathy and nothing but immense condemnation for a fool who ends his flight by ‘riding’ back to earth as a passenger…a stupid passenger !
At a minimum it should trigger an FAA ‘709’ ride/reexamination, to have the pilot demonstrate the proper operation of the aircraft.
The pilot’s certificate should be suspended until the ride is satisfactorily completed.
see; https://pilot-protection-services.aopa.org/news/2022/december/01/demystifying-709-reexaminations
Gee Len, you do like hyperbole, don’t you! I agree discipline is in order, but really, I’m surprised you didn’t say he should be hung.
Uau, realy?
Very educational and pedagogical text.
who never made a mistake should shoot the first stone, I hope you are a happy and super professional pilot.
Looking at the picture reminds me of the picture of the Japanese zero that was shot down over Dutch Harbor in WWII. He (Koga, the pilot) tried to do a wheels down landing on pasture- it turned out to be a marshy bog. His wheels dug in, and flipped the aircraft onto its back, probably breaking the pilots neck instantly. He was found still strapped in his seat weeks later. I’m glad its I different story with the pilot above-referred to.
Decades ago Sen. William Proxmire issued the Golden Fleece Award for assinine expditures of tax money. How about a Golden Duh Award for GA pilots who think getting airborne is as simple as lighting their barbeque and popping a can of Bud. He’s lucky he lived.
Regards/J
I remember the Rowan and Martin, Laugh-in, ‘Flying Fickle Finger of Fate’ award.
This could be used for these ‘stupid pilot tricks’.!!!
Lack of systems knowledge has caused much grief in aviation through the decades. From autopilots to stabilizers, unfamiliarity at the wrong time can end with you screaming in terror until you are liquified.
Great visual of the last seconds of human life.
/J
This pilot obviously did not get any info on the engine fuel use.
He stated that he thought it used 15 gph, so the 15 gallons would be ok for his 30 min flight.
However, looking at the engine performance data, takeoff power , 360 HP, uses 40 gph, and 64% cruise is 20 gph.
So if he used 1-2 gal for taxi and runup, 4 gal in climb, the remaining 9-10 gal would be good for maybe 30 minutes, with no reserve.
So, for the lack of $30, 5 gal., in added fuel, he now has a wrecked aircraft.!!