Fuel exhaustion Accident Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA-20-A1 N236BR, Monday 22 July 1996

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Date:	Monday 22 July 1996
Time:	11:45 LT
Type:	Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA-20-A1
Owner/operator:	Blue Ridge Aeronautics
Registration:	N236BR
MSN:	10036
Total airframe hrs:	655 hours
Engine model:	Rotax 912
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Vacaville, CA - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	, CA (045)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The flight instructor (CFI) and a rated pilot (student) were on a dual instructional flight and were returning from the practice area to the airport. About 4 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane. He turned the fuel pump on, and the engine started and ran for about 2 minutes, then lost power again. The CFI made a forced landing on an unoccupied street. During the landing, the airplane collided with a street sign and a curbing. An FAA inspector reported the airplane was out of fuel. The inspector further stated that the student had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity before the flight.

Probable Cause: improper planning/decision by the instructor pilot, which resulted in subsequent fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.

Accident investigation: