Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK N357PC

Summary

On 11 October 2024 at about 22:15 local time, a Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK registered N357PC was involved in an accident near Nicklesville, Georgia, 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

11 October 2024 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Nicklesville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

34.6019, -84.7767

Aircraft

Ditsler Paul A DAKOTA HAWK

Registration

N357PC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2019

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dahlonega → Calhoun

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA010

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, fuel planning, and improper fuel management during flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent off-airport hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a cross-country flight, about 12 miles from of his destination the pilot stated that the engine lost all power “due to fuel exhaustion.” The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the landing gear collapsed due to the airplane’s “excessive vertical speed.” The airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot further stated that he failed to check the airplane’s fuel levels prior to or during the flight. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.