What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 08/03/02 at approximately 1745 while enroute from clark field, north of justin, Texas to waco regional airport (act) experimental aircraft southworth eaa biplane maybee, N-11S, serial number JS-1 experienced engine sputter as if the engine was fuel starved. The engine stopped enroute to the selected off-airport landing site. The pilot reported that he experienced increased sink rate prior to landing and dropped the nose to increase airspeed and avoid stall. He stated he was unable to recover from the dive he initiated prior to striking the ground. The crash landing resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and minor injuries to the pilot. Because of damage to the aircraft and fuel tank it could not be determined at the accident site if fuel was present in the fuel tank. Subsequent investigation revealed that the fuel tank was dry and air was found in the fuel line.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 08/03/02 AT APPROXIMATELY 1745 WHILE ENROUTE FROM CLARK FIELD, NORTH OF JUSTIN, TEXAS TO WACO REGIONAL AIRPORT (ACT) EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT SOUTHWORTH EAA BIPLANE MAYBEE, N-11S, SERIAL NUMBER JS-1 EXPERIENCED ENGINE SPUTTER AS IF THE ENGINE WAS FUEL STARVED. THE ENGINE STOPPED ENROUTE TO THE SELECTED OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED INCREASED SINK RATE PRIOR TO LANDING AND DROPPED THE NOSE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED AND AVOID STALL. HE STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE DIVE HE INITIATED PRIOR TO STRIKING THE GROUND. THE CRASH LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT. BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FUEL TANK IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE IF FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DRY AND AIR WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.