# Accident 20030723018859A: Amtr MINIPLANE, Winnemucca, NV, July 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2003, 20:50 local time
- Place: Winnemucca, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1581° N, 117.6725° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1581&lon=-117.6725&mi=10
- Aircraft: N721SC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N721SC-2009-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith MINIPLANE (registry code 83501JY, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-miniplane) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR MINIPLANE
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 226 total, 75 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030723018859A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED IN A NNE DIRECTION FROM WINNEMUCCA, NV AIRPORT (WMC) AT APPROXIMATELY 13:00 LCL AFTER TAKING ON FUEL (11.4 GALS). FUEL CAPACITY OF AIRCRAFT IS 17.3 GALLONS. ENROUTE THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED (LOST) AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON HIGHWAY 225 AT OWYHEE, NV DUE TO A LOW FUEL STATE. PILOT OBTAINED 14 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AT A SERVICE STATION AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF ROUTE 225, AT APROXIMATELY 1603 LCL, STRIKING A ROAD MARKER WITH THE RIGHT LOWER WING TIP. TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND DAMAGED ASSESSED BY THE PILOT. (PILOT HOLDS AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT RATINGS). THE PILOT REMOVED A NON STRUCTURAL WING TIP ASSY AND TAPED THE TIP WITH DUCT TAPE. A SECOND TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED SUCCESSFULLY AND THE PILOT TOOK A DEAD RECKONING COMPASS HEADING FOR WINNEMUCCA AFTER LOCATING THE OWYHEE AIRPORT (10U). ENROUTE TO WINNEMUCCA, NV THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN SOME RAIN (STILL VFR) AND ONCE AGAIN BECAME DISORIENTED. FINALLY THE PILOT LOCATED STATE HIGHWAY 95 AND PROCEEDED SOUTH TOWARD WINNEMUCCA, NV. TWELVE TO THIRTEEN MILES NORTH OF WINNEMUCCA, NV THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT CRASH LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON AN EAST WEST DIRT ROAD INTERSECTING STATE ROUTE 95.

## 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 LAX03LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA242), Jul 24, 2003: Smith Miniplane (N721SC), Winnemucca, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. A factor…

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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