Amateur-built DHC-1 accident near East Troy, Wisconsin, November 6, 2024
On November 6, 2024 at about 9:55 pm local time, a 1951 amateur-built DHC-1, registered N420TD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near East Troy, Wisconsin (East Troy Municipal 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 pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inaccurate fuel gauge.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 2024 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- East Troy, Wisconsin · East Troy Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-1, built 1951
- Registration
- N420TD · registry record · serial C1-0532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the left wing fuel tank contained 3 gallons and the right wing fuel tank contained 4 gallons of fuel before departing on the accident flight. The pilot said he determined the fuel quantities during the prefight from fuel quantity gauge indications and by looking into each fuel tank to see if it was wetted with fuel. The pilot departed, performed one touch-and-go landing, then flew about 3 miles west, where he performed two steep turns before returning to the airport. The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the left wing fuel quantity gauge indicated 2 gallons, the right wing fuel quantity gauge indicated 3 gallons. While on final approach for landing, about 250-300 ft above ground level (agl) the engine lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot performed a forced landing about 300 to 400 ft short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained about 1 ½ gal of fuel. No fuel was present at the carburetor jets or the fuel supply line to the carburetor. The lack of fuel in these locations is consistent with a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. It is likely that the engine could not be restarted immediately due to air within the fuel system. Testing of the left wing fuel tank quantity gauge found the gauge was inaccurate, likely due to the presence of corrosion within the gauge assembly. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded engine operation.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel quantity indicator › Inoperative
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,182 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,136 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 9, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bristol Siddley Gypsey Major (piston); 468 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,446 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from KBUU, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBUU 062200Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM OVC032 10/07 A3015 RMK AO2 T01000067 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Site
Photograph 2 – Accident Site
Photograph 3 – Fuel Selector Position at Accident Site
Photograph 4 – Number 2 Cylinder Assembly
Photograph 5 – Number 4 Cylinder Assembly and Throttle Cable Linkage
Photograph 6 – Hobbs MeterThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 6, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Aircraft Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.