# NTSB ERA14CA349: Pekola James W Ridge Runner III, N39ZT, Andrews, NC, July 10, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2014, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Andrews, NC
- Coordinates: 35.186943, -83.876388
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1869&lon=-83.8764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 2, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89720
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA349
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89720/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89720
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA349

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to open the fuel tank valves during the preflight examination of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05617NT), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he departed the airport on a local flight in an experimental amateur built category airplane. After reaching about 100 feet above ground level and about 0.5 nautical miles from the departure end of the runway, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field located directly in front of the airplane. During the landing, the airplane impacted the ground, the main landing gear splayed, and the airplane skidded about 40 feet before coming to rest nose down in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical failures or anomalies, but during a postaccident examination of the airplane he discovered that he had failed to open the fuel tank valves prior to the flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he departed the airport on a local flight in an experimental amateur built category airplane. After reaching about 100 feet above ground level and about 0.5 nautical miles from the departure end of the runway, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field located directly in front of the airplane. During the landing, the airplane impacted the ground, the main landing gear splayed, and the airplane skidded about 40 feet before coming to rest nose down in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical failures or anomalies, but during a postaccident examination of the airplane he discovered that he had failed to open the fuel tank valves prior to the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39ZT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39ZT), registered now, S/N 02030388, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PEKOLA JAMES W RIDGE RUNNER III
- Registry model: [Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III](https://openairdocs.org/model/pekola-james-w-ridge-runner-iii) (registry code 05617NT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 02030388
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 177
- Engines: Jabiru 2200A 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sarvis Thomas Wesley
- Registered owner: Sarvis Thomas Wesley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: RHP, ANDREWS, NC
- Destination: RHP, ANDREWS, NC
- Airport: RHP, Western Carolina Rgnl, runway 26, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2005; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 456 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: RHP

## 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 20140710014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140710014589A), Jul 10, 2014: Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III, Andrews, NC, Substantial damage. On July 10, 2014, at approximately 1130 eastern daylight time, a Ridge Runner III aircraft, N39ZT, serial number 02030388, was substantially damaged during a…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89720. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 633 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Pilot Follow-up (item 4, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Follow-up-Master.PDF
- Weather Report and Record (item 5, .PDF, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Record-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Compilation of Fuel Valves (Photos Courtesy of Pilot) (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Compilation%20of%20Fuel%20Valves%20(Photos%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Airplane at Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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