# NTSB CEN26LA215: Eaa Acro Sport II, N23RA, Sheridan, AR, May 31, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 31, 2026, 16:28 local (21:28 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, AR - Coordinates: 34.327528, -92.351333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3275&lon=-92.3513&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203103/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA215 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05646EK), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine lost power and the pilot observed a low fuel pressure indication. He engaged the manual fuel pump, and engine power was briefly restored. He turned the airplane back toward the departure airport, but the engine power remained unreliable. The pilot selected a highway for an emergency landing and landed as close to the right side of the westbound lane as practical to maintain separation from vehicular traffic. During the landing rollout, the right wing struck a road sign which pulled the airplane sharply to the right. The main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was examined after the accident. The fuel tanks were intact and no fuel was present. The pilot reported that he checked his fuel totalizer before the flight but was distracted by a conversation and did not verify the fuel quantity visually. He reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23RA), registered now, S/N 107, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EAA Acro Sport II - Registry model: [Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-ronald-eaa-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05646EK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 107 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 308 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 9M8, Sheridan-Grant County Regional Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,800 total, 109 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KHOT, 38 nm away - METAR: METAR KHOT 312053Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM FEW044 34/23 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP123 T03440228 56016= ## 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 20260531007499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260531007499A), May 31, 2026: Adams Ronald EAA ACRO SPORT II, Sherdian, AR, Substantial damage. On the afternoon of may 31, 2026, at approximately 4 pm, a 1990 acro sport ii attempted an emergency landing on Arkansas highway 270 due to a loss of engine… 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.