Evektor Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR N409EV

Summary

On 21 July 2019 at about 01:00 local time, a Evektor Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR registered N409EV, operated by Sunshine Flyers, was involved in an accident near Tracy, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2019 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tracy, California, United States

Nearest airport

Tracy Muni (TCY)

Coordinates

37.6731, -121.4381

Aircraft

Evektor Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR

Registration

N409EV

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Sunshine Flyers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Martin → Auburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA446

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent emergency landing and collision with a tree.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while conducting the preflight inspection, he mistook the voltmeter for the fuel gauge. The first leg of his flight was uneventful; however, on the return flight, the engine started to sputter and then lost all power. He navigated toward a nearby airport, but when he realized that the airplane would not reach the airport, he chose to land on a field near the south end of the airport. During the landing, the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.