# NTSB ERA24LA367: Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, N136TR, Trinity, VA, September 1, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2024, 11:38 local (15:38 UTC) - Place: Trinity, VA - Coordinates: 37.451341, -79.909463 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4513&lon=-79.9095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195060 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA367 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195060/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195060 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA367 ## Probable cause The pilots’ improper in-flight fuel management, 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. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056078J), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=056078J), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=056078J), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056078J), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056078J), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before departing for the 508 nautical mile cross-country flight, he had a total of 38 gallons of fuel onboard. After departing his home airport, the pilot climbed the airplane to 11,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and was flying “[visual flight rules] on top.” While at 11,000 ft msl, the pilot requested radar vectors around some weather from air traffic control (ATC), during which time, the pilot noticed that his fuel consumption was much higher than he had anticipated. The pilot asked ATC for radar vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot described that the airplane “ran out of fuel” about 7 miles from the diversion airport. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wing fuel tanks were absent of fuel and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. After the airplane was recovered, the airframe and engine’s fuel systems were examined in detail and there was no evidence of any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N136TR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N136TR), registered now, S/N 34132, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REDFIELD THOMAS C RV-6A - Registry model: [Redfield Thomas C RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/redfield-thomas-c-rv-6a) (registry code 056078J) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 34132 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 803 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2024, 31.6 hours before - Departed: VPZ, Valparaison, IN - Destination: FCI, Richmond, VA - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 227.3 total, 80 in this make and model, 127.9 as pilot in command, 6.4 in the last 90 days, 1.3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KROA 011554Z VRB06KT 10SM FEW095 BKN110 26/20 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02560200= ## 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 20240901019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240901019809A), Sep 1, 2024: Redfield Thomas C RV-6A, Troutville, VA, Destroyed. The pilot reported that before departing for the 508 nautical mile cross-country flight, he had a Total of 38 gallons of fuel onboard. After departing his home… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195060. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18112045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor - FAA on scene fuel observations (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18121763&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20FAA%20On%20Scene%20Fuel%20Observations-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - fuel system examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18112747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA367%20Fuel%20System%20Inspection%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18113715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.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.