- Date
- September 26, 1992, 10:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place
- Rialto, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N321RGGolightly, Robert B. RV4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27777
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
Fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper management of the fuel system, and his failure to perform the emergency procedure of repositioning the fuel selector to a tank containing fuel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a local flight the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising at 6500 feet MSL. The pilot made a forced landing in the uneven and rough terrain of an open field. The airplane was substantially damaged during the landing touchdown. The crash site elevation was about 1455 feet MSL. The pilot indicated that the power loss had resulted from his improper fuel management. According to the pilot, he had '...[run] the engine out of fuel' and had failed to switch fuel tanks to a tank containing fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N321RG
- Reported as
- Golightly, Robert B. RV4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1044
- Airframe hours
- 16
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2C, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert B. Golightly
- Registered owner
- Robert B. Golightly
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 2, 2000 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- POC · La Verne, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 685 total · 16 in this make and model · 628 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 100 °F