Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER accident near Salinas, California, April 18, 2026
On April 18, 2026, a 2020 Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER, registered N143AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Salinas, California (Salinas Municipal Airport). 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 inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2026 · cases in 2026
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER, built 2020 · all ALPHA TRAINERs on the register
- Registration
- N143AW · registry record · serial 1030 AT 912 LSA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor and student pilot, they performed a preflight inspection which included viewing the visual fuel quantity indicators inside the cabin, which they observed the level to be full. The flight instructor reported that he did not check the fuel quantity by removing the fuel caps. After flying for about 39 minutes in the airport traffic pattern performing several takeoffs and landings, during an initial climb, the engine had a total loss of power about 250 ft above ground level. The flight instructor assumed the flight controls and chose an empty street near the airport to initiate a forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel, and the fuel system was intact with no evidence of leaks. The fuel sight gauges were a purple, transparent color, which would have likely made it difficult to see if fuel was present in the system. The pilot’s operating handbook indicated that fuel quantity should be checked both in the cabin and through the fuel cap on each wing during a preflight inspection.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,843 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,705 as pilot in command; 71 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 164.8 hours in all; 13.3 in this make and model; 15.2 in the last 90 days; 13.3 in the last 30 days; 13.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 381 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 23, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL 2-01 (piston); 381 hours total
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KSNS
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNS 172353Z 29013G20KT 10SM CLR 20/M03 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02001028 10228 20178 55003=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on August 27, 2026. 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- CFI | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1- Student | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Airport Manager | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Textron | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot's Operating Handbook Excerpts | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Summary of Fuel System Examination | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Flight Data | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N143AW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pipistrel ALPHA TRAINER 170 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pipistrel 398 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL 2-01 3,381 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salinas Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA173.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.