Amateur-built S1SEW accident near Bennett, Colorado, November 11, 1990
On November 11, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built S1SEW, registered N87PF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bennett, Colorado. 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 REFUEL THE AIRPLANE AND THE RESULTANT FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bennett, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S1SEW
- Registration
- N87PF · no longer on the register · serial 30
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ATP PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS WITH A BORROWED AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1500 FEET AGL, AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR WAS SHEARED AND THE PLANE CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. TWO WING SPARS WERE BENT AND THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED. THE OWNER AND PILOT SAID THE PLANE HAD FLOWN FOR 2.5 HOURS ON 19 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE OWNER SAID THE PLANE USED 8 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE TANKS AND ONLY A TRACE IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM. A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN RESULTED IN A NORMAL RUN. THE PILOT STATED HE RAN OUT OF FUEL.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 4:45 pm
- Destination: APA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.