Hargrove HUMMEL ULTRA CRUISER N245AP

Summary

On 15 October 2018 at about 18:16 local time, a Hargrove HUMMEL ULTRA CRUISER registered N245AP was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida, 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

15 October 2018 at 18:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Zephyrhills, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Zephyrhills (ZPH)

Coordinates

28.2608, -82.2106

Aircraft

Hargrove HUMMEL ULTRA CRUISER

Registration

N245AP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zephyrhills → Zephyrhills

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19LA014

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to activate the airplane’s auxiliary fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the impairing effects of the pilot’s medication on his performance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before departing on a on a local pleasure flight, the sport pilot reported that he did not activate the airplane’s auxiliary fuel pump, which would have replenished the header fuel tank with fuel from the airplane’s two main wing fuel tanks. About 5 minutes later, the airplane’s engine lost power when the fuel supply in the header tank was exhausted. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but as he maneuvered the airplane to avoid a tree, the airplane stalled and descended into the tree. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane’s fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported taking gabapentin prior to the flight. Gabapentin carries the warning, “patients should be advised that gabapentin may cause dizziness, somnolence and other symptoms and signs of central nervous system depression.” It is likely the impairing effects of gabapentin contributed to the pilot's failure to turn on the fuel pump, which led to fuel starvation and the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.