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DEN89LA180

1989-07-27 · WEST JORDAN, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport U42

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A FALSE FUEL GAGE INDICATION, AND THE DITCH IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Factual narrative

THE PVT PLT & HIS SON WERE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS ON RWY 16 AT DUSK. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE FM 160 DEG AT 5 KTS. THE PLT SAID HE TOOK OFF, & WHILE TURNING X-WIND, THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING. HE ROCKED THE WINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE FUEL TO THE ENG, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE TURNED THE PLANE BACK TOWARD THE ARPT & LANDED ON TERRAIN EAST OF THE RWY. THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK AN IRRIGATION DITCH & WAS DAMAGED AS THE PLANE SKIDDED TO A HALT ON THE SOUTHEAST EDGE OF RWY 16. A POST-ACDNT EXAM REVEALED NO FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE GASCOLATOR & LESS THAN 1 QT OF FUEL WAS IN THE TANKS. AFTER THE TANKS WERE DRAINED, THE FUEL GAGES INDCD THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY & THAT THE RIGHT TANK WAS 1/4 FULL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_DEN89LA180.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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