Amateur-built PELICAN accident near Searcy, Arkansas, August 26, 2009
On August 26, 2009 at about 5:25 pm local time, a amateur-built PELICAN, registered N713DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Searcy, Arkansas (Searcy Municipal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel selector valve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2009 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Searcy, Arkansas · Searcy Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PELICAN PL
- Registration
- N713DW · registry record · serial 601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off for a test flight and after climbing approximately 500 feet, and with about 1,000 to 1,500 feet of runway remaining, the engine lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and made a forced landing in a field at the end of the runway. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded a few feet before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination indicated that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position; the pilot thought it was in the "ON" position. The design of the selector handle was such that the "tail" of the selector handle was in the "OFF" position. A 180-degree twist of the handle would have placed it in the "ON" position.
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 starvation during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 296 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 10, 2009; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotex 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRC Searcy AR at 5:25 pm
- Destination: SRC Searcy AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from SRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN09LA551.