Quicksilver MXL II accident near Marceline, Missouri, June 29, 2003
On June 29, 2003 at about 1:15 am local time, a Quicksilver MXL II, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marceline, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to assure an adequate fuel supply which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in this make/model of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2003 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Marceline, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXL II · all MXL IIs on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft impacted the terrain following a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft owner contacted the pilot so that he could teach him to fly his recently purchased Quicksilver. The pilot stated he saw the aircraft owner add two gallons of fuel to the aircraft prior to takeoff. The pilot departed solo in the airplane from a private airstrip and flew to a nearby airport where he performed three full stop takeoffs and landings. The aircraft owner went to the airport and boarded the airplane with the pilot. According to the pilot, they departed and flew 5 to 10 minutes prior to experiencing a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he pumped the throttle and was able to "...get fuel, but only at intermittent intervals." The pilot reported the aircraft contacted the ground as he attempted to turn in order to avoid trees. The local sheriff reported the fuel tank was clear and he was unable to see any fuel in the tank. The sheriff also reported the passenger stated to him that he felt they ran out of fuel during the flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Brookfield MO at 1:05 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CHI03LA211.