Amateur-built MOYNAHAN PITTS S-1S accident near Newnan, Georgia, May 9, 2010
On May 9, 2010 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built MOYNAHAN PITTS S-1S, registered N5FM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Newnan, Georgia (Newnan Coweta County 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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2010 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · Newnan Coweta County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MOYNAHAN PITTS S-1S
- Registration
- N5FM · registry record · serial 0001
- 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 amateur-built aerobatic airplane stated that he planned to perform three touch-and-go landings. Prior to flight he used a stick he had previously calibrated to check his main fuel tank. His main fuel tank held 19 gallons, with 1 gallon unusable, and he did not store any fuel in his auxiliary fuel tank. He measured 5 to 6 inches of fuel on his stick, which he equated to approximately 6.5 gallons of fuel. About 15 minutes after engine start the pilot was completing his third touch-and-go landing when, on the upwind leg and at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to turn around and land on the runway in the opposite direction of takeoff; however, the airplane impacted the airport ramp area and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the main fuel tank, including the clear fuel line leading from the tank to the fuel selector valve, was absent of fuel. The inspector and airport personnel did not notice any evidence of the fuel tank being compromised or any postimpact fuel spill.
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 initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 574 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 574 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 8, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2010; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCO Newnan GA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: CCO Newnan GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 pm from CCO
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.