Amateur-built PITTS S-12 accident near Spicewood, Texas, June 5, 2009
On June 5, 2009 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built PITTS S-12, registered N922TP, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Spicewood, Texas (Spicewood Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the presence of an unidentified contaminant in the fuel system which clogged the fuel flow sensor. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer’s installation of the fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel filter and the misleading fuel schematic published by the airplane kit manufacturer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2009 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Spicewood, Texas · Spicewood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PITTS S-12
- Registration
- N922TP · registry record · serial 188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on departure when the engine started sputtering and lost power. The pilot turned toward the runway and landed beside the runway in the dirt, substantially damaging the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel flow sensor, which was located upstream of the fuel flow filter, was clogged with an unidentified substance and there was particulate matter in the fuel lines. The source of the substances could not be determined. The experimental airplane manufacturer installed the fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel flow filter as depicted on a fuel flow schematic, provided for information only, by the airplane airframe kit manufacturer. The installation instructions for the fuel flow sensor indicated the fuel flow sensor should be installed downstream of a fuel filter.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel contamination during prior to flight defining event
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel flow sensor › Related operating info
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel flow sensor › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel flow sensor › Damaged/degraded
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Owner/builder
- factor Organizational issues › Development › Design › Policy/procedure development › Manufacturer
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 3, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vedeneyev M-14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 88R Spicewood TX at 1:00 am
- Destination: 88R Spicewood TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,185 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 1:07 am from RYW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN09LA341.