Extra EA300 accident near Mesa, Arizona, August 14, 2019
On August 14, 2019 at about 2:25 pm local time, a 1997 Extra EA300, registered N19AM, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Mesa, Arizona. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s operation of the airplane outside of the manufacturer’s limitations, which resulted in fuel starvation and a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was an inoperative electric fuel boost pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2019 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra EA300 L, built 1997
- Registration
- N19AM · no longer on the register · serial 046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were maneuvering the airplane as part of an upset prevention and recovery training curriculum. The flight instructor reported that the airplane lost partial engine power as he completed a rolling maneuver demonstration. The flight instructor immediately switched the fuel selector valve from the WING tank position to the ACRO/CENTER (acrobatic) fuel tank position; however, he was unable to restore full engine power and subsequently made an off-airport landing during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident onsite examination of the airplane revealed that the acro/center fuel tank contained approximately 13 gallons of avgas. The left-wing tank contained trace amounts of avgas and the right-wing tank contained approximately 6 gallons of avgas. Further examination of the airplane revealed that the electrically driven fuel boost pump, which the flight instructor reported was on during the accident flight, was inoperative. It would be used, in part, for emergencies and inflight restarts following an engine failure. The inoperative boost pump was removed and replaced with a segregate boost pump. The engine was then started and developed continuous power at varied throttle positions between idle to full power. The flight manual states that aerobatic maneuvers must be accomplished with the fuel selector in the ACRO/CENTER (acrobatic) fuel tank position. The accident sequence is consistent with a partial loss of engine power likely due to an interruption of fuel flow while the flight instructor was performing aerobic maneuvers with the fuel sector in the WING tank position. It is likely that the fuel unported from the wing tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and a partial loss of engine power. The inoperative electric fuel boost pump contributed to the flight instructor's inability to restart the engine.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel pump › Inoperative
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 2,170 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 10,780 as pilot in command; 3,685 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,231 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 18, 2019; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 1,360 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Performance Solutions, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KIWA Mesa AZ at 1:25 pm
- Destination: KIWA Mesa AZ
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from KIWA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on July 13, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Information Manual | PDF, 330 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Exam and Accident Summary Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Fuel Pump Exam Report Weldon | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Repair Station Report Summary Aeromotors | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Repair Station Information and Authorization | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Fuel Servo Exam Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.