Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB ERA12LA584
KEUTHAN BUCCANEER II — Granite Quarry, NC
| Date | September 30, 2012 |
| Location | Granite Quarry, NC |
| Aircraft | KEUTHAN BUCCANEER II |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Fuel exhaustion |
| Pilot age | 49 |
| Pilot total time | 500 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid management - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Fuel planning-Pilot - C
What happened
The pilot added about 5 gallons of automotive gasoline to the aircraft fuel tank before departing on a local flight. Witnesses observed the amphibious airplane flying low, and the engine lost power. The airplane then struck power lines and crashed in an open field. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a pre-existing mechanical malfunction or failure. An aircraft recovery parachute was found partially deployed within the wreckage. An examination of the aircraft fuel lines revealed only a small amount of residual fuel. The fuel tank contained only residual fuel and was not breached.