- Date
- November 25, 2011, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Quinton, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N816BAAnatra Bart T Vans RV-7A
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111125027069A
- Case key
- 82409
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the subsequent nose-over during the forced landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, after a touch-and-go landing and takeoff and, while the airplane was about 500 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the airplane landed short of the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane "flipped," resulting in structural damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. Examination of the wreckage found that the right fuel tank was empty and was not breached. The pilot stated that the main fuel switch was in the right tank position when the engine lost power. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, after a touch-and-go, about 500 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, it was dark and the airplane landed short of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane "flipped," resulting in structural damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and found the right fuel tank was empty of fuel and was not breached. The pilot stated that the main fuel switch was in the right tank position when the engine lost power. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N816BA
- Reported as
- Anatra Bart T Vans RV-7A
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 70809
- Airframe hours
- 239
- Engine
- Superior XP-O-360-A1A2, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bradley David
- Registered owner
- Bradley David
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 16, 2011 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- W96 · Quinton, VA
- Destination
- W96 · Quinton, VA
- Airport
- W96 · New Kent County Airport, runway 28, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Military, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 31, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,400 total · 115 in this make and model · 5,100 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- RIC, 9 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 404 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.