Amateur-built Pulsar III accident near Ocean Isle Beac, North Carolina, January 4, 2005
On January 4, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Pulsar III, registered N6133U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocean Isle Beac, North Carolina (Ocean Isle Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight that resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Isle Beac, North Carolina · Ocean Isle Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pulsar III
- Registration
- N6133U · no longer on the register · serial P9703-0523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot on the day of the accident, prior to takeoff, he had added about two to two and one-half gallons of fuel to the left wing tank. He stated that he did not check the fuel quantity in either tank when he added the fuel, and believed that the right tank had about eight gallons remaining from his last flight. He stated that about 15-minutes after takeoff he experienced engine failure. He said that his altitude was about 800 feet mean sea level. He stated that he elected to do a forced landing in a marsh rather than attempt to stretch the glide toward the airport which was about two miles away. Examination of the fuel tanks found about two gallons of unusable fuel in each tank. The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had visually inspected the fuel tanks prior to takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 7, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 2004; 6.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 60J Ocean Isle Beac NC at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 60J Ocean Isle Beac NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from RDU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.