Amateur-built Glastar accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, September 13, 2005
On September 13, 2005 at about 10:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Glastar, registered N46289, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork-Springville 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to strain the fuel prior to flight resulting in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to the plugged fuel filter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2005 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah · Spanish Fork-Springville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glastar
- Registration
- N46289 · no longer on the register · serial 5621
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he added 9 gallons of automotive fuel to the left tank prior to the flight. He stated that this fuel was not filtered or strained prior to or during the refueling. While on downwind, the engine began to shutter. The pilot continued to troubleshoot the situation and was able to maintain engine power with full throttle only. He elected to land at an adjacent field. During the landing roll, he stated he was "unable to stop before the end of the field" and impacted a ditch. The airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed that the fuel filter was plugged.
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: 250 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bradford Haines Eggenfullner (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U77 Spanish Fork UT at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from PVU, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.