Amateur-built PULSAR XP accident near San Angelo, Texas, April 17, 2012
On April 17, 2012 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PULSAR XP, registered N912RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near San Angelo, Texas (Ducote Air Park 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
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a blocked fuel vent line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2012 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · Ducote Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PULSAR XP
- Registration
- N912RV · registry record · serial 394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot reported that the airplane had not been flown in 4 months. Six gallons of fuel were in the right tank, and three gallons were in the left tank; right wing tank was selected during the accident flight. The engine start, taxi, and run-up were normal. About 4 minutes after engine start, the pilot taxied onto the runway and departed. He reported that the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above ground level when the engine had a total loss of engine power. The airplane landed in a field and sustained substantial damage. During postaccident examination, the fuel tanks, fuel lines, and fuel strainer were checked for debris and water contamination, but none were observed. The engine-driven mechanical fuel pump, the electric fuel pump, and the engine all were tested and operated normally. However, the outboard section of right wing fuel vent line was blocked by debris. The blockage was removed from the fuel vent line; it measured about ¼-inch wide at its widest and about ½-inch long. The blocked fuel vent line likely created a vacuum, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.
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 takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,262 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 1,995 as pilot in command; 420 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 331 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912XP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TS65 San Angelo TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: TS65 San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,700 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
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 CEN12FA249.