# Accident 19970731020849A: Amtrvn VANSRV4, Seminole, TX, July 31, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 1997, 07:45 local time
- Place: Seminole, TX
- Airport: Gaines County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7093° N, 102.6490° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7093&lon=-102.6490&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37RV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37RV-2000-02-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bauer Frederick R VANS RV-4 (registry code 05608Y3, https://openairdocs.org/model/bauer-frederick-r-vans-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRVN VANSRV4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA293) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970731020849A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF, REACHED 500FT AGL, SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, ENGINE QUIT, CRASHED WHILE TRYING TO LAND ON ROAD. (-23) THE PILOT STATES THAT HE TOOK OFF, CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET AGL, LEVELED OFF, AND THEN HE SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING CONTACT WITH A POWER LINE AND THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A TRACE OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, AND THE LEFT TANK WAS MEASURED WITH MORE THAN 2 INCHES OF FUEL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA293), Jul 31, 1997: Bauer Vans RV-4 (N37RV), Seminole, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper use of the fuel tank selector.

## Other reports on N37RV (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19910801038519I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910801038519I), Aug 1, 1991: Amtrvn VANSRV4 (N37RV), Columbia/Mt Ple, TN, Minor damage. Lost directional control on rollout. Ran off side of runway into grass. Rudder pedal hinge bolt had backed out.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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