Amateur-built GLASAIR III accident near Pahrump, Nevada, July 17, 2023
On July 17, 2023 at about 2:55 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built GLASAIR III, registered N196G, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pahrump, Nevada (Calvada Meadows airport). It was a personal 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
A fuel leak due to damaged threads on a fuel line fitting, which resulted in an interruption of fuel flow and a total 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
- July 17, 2023 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Pahrump, Nevada · Calvada Meadows · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR III, built 1997
- Registration
- N196G · no longer on the register · serial 3196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot detected the odor of fuel in the cockpit shortly after taking off. He turned the fuel boost pump off to alleviate the fuel smell. The fuel smell remained, and the engine surged and lost power. The pilot turned the fuel pump back on and switched fuel tanks to restart the engine. The engine did not restart so he performed a forced landing to a highway. The airplane hit a sign and the landing gear collapsed during the landing, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. During postaccident examination of the airplane a fuel leak was found in a fitting where the fuel line passes through the firewall to the engine. The connection at the fitting was tight, but abrasion damage was found to the fitting threads when the fuel line was disconnected. Maintenance was performed on fuel-related engine components about three months before the accident, but it was not determined if the fuel line to the damaged fitting was manipulated at that time. The accident is consistent with the engine losing total power due to fuel starvation resulting from a fuel leak that interrupted fuel flow to the engine. The leak resulted from the damaged threads on the fuel line fitting; the damage to the fittings likely occurred at an undetermined time during prior maintenance.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,806 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,681 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 871 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 20, 2022; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 871 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 27.60 inHg
Weather report (METAR): 7:53 AM 95 °F 51 °F 22 % CALM 0 mph 0 mph 27.60 in 0.0 in Fair
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 26, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Mor FAA Examination Observations | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Fuel Fitting Examination Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 5 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.