# Accident 20241222021459A: Bursey Frederick J RV-7A, Gila Bend, AZ, December 22, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 22, 2024, 16:59 local time
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Airport: Gila Bend
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0432° N, 112.9015° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0432&lon=-112.9015&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1FB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1FB-2026-07-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bursey Frederick J RV-7A (registry code 05627TP, https://openairdocs.org/model/bursey-frederick-j-rv-7a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Superior IO-360 series (registry code 59251, https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURSEY FREDERICK J RV-7A
- Reported engine: SUPERIOR XP-IO-360-B1AD2
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241222021459A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 22, 2024, AN EXPERIMENTAL RV-7 WITH 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD LOST ALL ENGINE POWER FORCING THE PIC TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A DESERT DRY WASH 14 MILES WNW OF GILA BEND (E63).  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN RUGGED TERRAIN, CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS CANOPY ON LANDING.  THERE WAS FUEL SMELL BUT NO POST-CRASH FIRE AND THE 2 OCCUPANTS WERE EVENTUALLY TO BREAK THE CANOPY AND EXIT THE PLANE.

PIC EMPLOYED HIS SMART WATCH TO NOTIFY HELP, AFTER WHICH THEY WERE RESCUED VIA HELICOPTER.

PIC CITED A GRADUAL LOSS RPMS AT 4500 MSL, AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER, LEADING TO A FULL LOSS OF POWER AND THE LANDING IN THE DRY WASH.  PLANE WAS ALWAYS IN CONTROLLED FLIGHT UNTIL LANDING ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.

## 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 WPR25LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA070), Dec 22, 2024: Vans RV-7A (N1FB), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A disconnection of the mixture control linkage during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the inadequate inspection of the mixture control arm…

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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