Amateur-built Alisport-Silent accident near Vero Beach, Florida, October 1, 2008
On October 1, 2008 at about 7:02 pm local time, a amateur-built Alisport-Silent (glider), registered N373DB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Vero Beach, Florida (Indian River Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the electric fuel boost pump which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2008 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Indian River Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Alisport-Silent
- Registration
- N373DB · registry record · serial 37K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the powered glider stated that about 30 seconds after takeoff, about 170 feet above the ground, the engine rpm decreased. He then leveled the glider and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot entered a left turn to land to the east and the engine "suddenly regained power." He then turned the glider to return to the airport, but when he leveled the wings the engine again stopped producing power. Lacking the altitude to return to the airport, the pilot chose a road for a forced landing. The landing area was blocked with cars and power poles, so he landed the glider "hard" in the grass adjacent to the roadway to avoid the obstacles. A detailed examination of the glider revealed that with electrical power applied, the fuel boost pump did not pump fuel from the pump outlet port.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 36 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 2007; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 640 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL74 Vero Beach FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: FL74 Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from VRB, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.