Curtiss Moses AEROLITE N43598

Summary

On 9 June 2009 at about 15:30 local time, a Curtiss Moses AEROLITE registered N43598 was involved in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 June 2009 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

34.8105, -106.7308

Aircraft

Curtiss Moses AEROLITE

Registration

N43598

Category

Ultralight

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Lunas → Los Lunas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA345

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was flying his airplane near the home of one of his relatives. The engine "stalled" as he passed over the residence and he decided to land on a gravel road, but changed the intended landing area to an open field. While approaching the field for a landing, the airplane collided with a hidden obstruction. An examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The fuel selector was found selected to an empty fuel tank, while the other fuel tank contained approximately 2.5 gallons of fuel. Under supervision by the FAA, the engine was started and ran normally under various power settings. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.