Pipistrel Alpha Trainer accident near Peyton, Colorado, April 14, 2026
On April 14, 2026 at about 10:17 am local time, a 2023 Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, registered N495LP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Peyton, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2026 · about 10:17 am local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, built 2023 · all Alpha Trainers on the register
- Registration
- N495LP · registry record · serial 1160 AT 912 LSA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two commercial rated pilots were conducting a night cross-country flight with the purpose of building flight time. The pilots assessed fuel while on the return leg of their planned route and decided that there was enough fuel to conduct a practice instrument approach at another airport. After completing the practice approach, about 4 gallons of fuel was indicated on the fuel gauge and the pilots flew toward their destination. Subsequently, about 8 nautical miles from the destination, the engine lost all power. The right seat pilot conducted a forced landing to a field during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Post-accident inspection of the fuel system showed no fuel visible in the tank and about 1/2 teaspoon of fuel was drained from the sump. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the right seat pilot, there was a squawk on the airplane stating that the fuel gauge indicated about 2.5 to 3 gallons high. She stated that the squawk was not seen before the accident flight. According to the flight school, upon dispatching, pilots are automatically presented with open squawks to review through the company dispatching software.
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 exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,209 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,092 as pilot in command; 712 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 22, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 13, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 1,212 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL SERIES (piston); 958 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LIC Limon CO at 9:42 am
- Destination: FLY Colorado Springs CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 am from KFLY, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFLY 141015Z AUTO 01009G19KT 10SM SCT090 SCT110 08/M10 A2991 RMK AO2 T00761098
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Fuselage Damage Right side
Photograph 2 – Fuselage Damage left side
Photograph 3 – Amount of Collected fuelThe 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 15, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Email Correspondence | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N495LP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER 170 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pipistrel 398 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 912UL SERIES 402 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Meadow Lake Airport · nearest airport
- Limon Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,483 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA165.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.