# NTSB CEN19TA335: Vans RV 4, N64HS, De Soto, MS, September 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: September 18, 2019, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: De Soto, MS - Coordinates: 32.005554, -88.612777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0056&lon=-88.6128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100360/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100360 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA335 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Harold A RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056081A), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Steiner Harold A RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=056081A), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Steiner Harold A RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=056081A), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Steiner Harold A RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056081A), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight. The airplane was at 4,500 ft mean sea level and descending when the low fuel pressure light illuminated; the engine immediately lost all power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane hit tree branches and veered off the road, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed only a small amount of fuel in the fuel tanks; neither tank was breached. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances are consistent with a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2019, about 1755 central daylight time, a Vans RV 4 airplane, N64HS, was substantially when it was involved in an accident near De Soto, Mississippi. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross country flight departed about 1505 from Marion County Airport (X35), Dunnellon, Florida, and was en route to Key Field Airport (MEI), Meridian, Mississippi. According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, the airplane was at 4,500 ft mean sea level and was descending. The low fuel pressure light illuminated and the engine immediately lost all power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a road. During the forced landing the airplane hit a few tree branches and veered off of the road to the left. The airplane came to rest in a ditch and the fuselage, engine mounts, and empennage were substantially damaged. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident there was only a small amount of fuel in the fuel tank. Neither fuel tank was breached during the accident sequence and there was no evidence of fuel on the road or at the accident site. The inspector stated that there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64HS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64HS), registered now, S/N 719 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 4 - Registry model: [Steiner Harold A RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/steiner-harold-a-rv-4) (registry code 056081A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 719 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 994.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B2B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 22, 2019 - Departed: X35, Dunnellon, FL - Destination: MEI, Meridian, MS - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 16,300 total, 25 in this make and model, 15,800 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: MEI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190918015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190918015629A), Sep 18, 2019: Steiner Harold A RV-4, Quitman, MS, Substantial damage. The pilot intended to land at meridian, MS. The aircraft was on descent into MEI. At 4500' the low pressure fuel light illuminated, then the aircraft lost all… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100360. 8.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Report Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Recent Maintence Excerpts - N64HS (item 5, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Recent%20Maintence%20Excerpts%20-%20N64HS-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.