N683DB

Substantial
Minor

BURTON DENNIS W SONEXS/N: 0691

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, August 16, 2015
NTSB Number
GAA15CA234
Location
Wolcottville, IN
Event ID
20150820X53149
Coordinates
41.534999, -85.375274
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
2
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced off-airport landing, and nose over.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BURTON DENNIS W
Serial Number
0691
Engine Type
4-cycle
Model / ICAO
SONEXFK9
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
SONEX

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
SMITH MATTHEW
Address
8316 N TWISTED OAK DR
City
MARTINSVILLE
State / Zip Code
IN 46151-5921
Country
United States

Analysis

During a local flight, the pilot reported that his engine quit while maneuvering about 1,200 above ground level. The pilot stated that his only option was to land in a soy bean field, and he attempted to fly as slow as possible prior to touchdown. After rolling about 50 feet in the field the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that for the majority of the 30 minute flight, he was flying with the fuel mixture full rich. He stated that he did not depart with full fuel, and must have been burning fuel at a higher rate than he originally anticipated.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, during a postaccident examination the airplane's fuel tanks were empty and no fuel was found at the tank sumps.

The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The vertical stabilizer and left wing sustained substantial damage.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA234