Quicksilver MXL II accident near Arecibo, Puerto Rico, July 14, 2018
On July 14, 2018 at about 9:40 pm local time, a 1995 Quicksilver MXL II, registered N594TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Arecibo, Puerto Rico (Antonio/Nery/Juarbe Pol airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot's improper fuel planning and management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2018 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Arecibo, Puerto Rico · Antonio/Nery/Juarbe Pol · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXL II, built 1995 · all MXL IIs on the register
- Registration
- N594TC · registry record · serial 5690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the local flight, the noncertificated pilot approached the airport for landing. During the approach, he performed a go-around, and the airplane encountered strong winds, so he decided to turn 180° to land on the opposite runway. While turning, about 1/2 mile from the runway, the engine lost total power, so the pilot landed the airplane straight ahead into marshy terrain in a nose-low attitude. The empennage and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The 6-gallon fuel tank was found empty, and the fuel cap was found secured to the tank. The pilot reported that the airplane departed with 5 gallons of fuel onboard for the flight, which was about 1 hour 10 minutes long, and the estimated fuel consumption for the airplane was between about 5.3 and 6 gallons per hour. It is likely that, during the go-around and maneuver to return to the airport, the fuel supply was exhausted, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR go-around)
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Dual student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 320.1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABO Arecibo PR
- Destination: ABO Arecibo PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,963 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BQN, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N594TC 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 ERA18TA193.