# NTSB SEA96LA004: Vans RV-6T, N96VA, North Plains, OR, October 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 1995, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: North Plains, OR - Coordinates: 45.670547, -123.019584 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6705&lon=-123.0196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42299/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA004 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the failure of the left tank fuel quantity sending unit which resulted in a false indication of fuel quantity. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - failure,partial (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - wire,static - object - fence post ## Analysis While on approach for landing, the pilot selected the left fuel tank which was indicating more than 3/4 full. About 1/2 mile from the end of the runway, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field of raspberries, and during the landing flare the aircraft collided with steel fence posts and static wires used to support the raspberries. The left tank was found dry. An internal failure in the left tank fuel quantity sending unit had caused it to give a false indication. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 1995, approximately 1445 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Vans RV-6T, N96VA, collided with several objects during a forced landing about one-eighth mile from Sunset Airpark, North Plains, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Gold Beach, Oregon approximately 1315, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, he switched to the aircraft's left tank, which indicated more than three-quarters full, while on approach to land at Sunset Airpark. Just over one-half mile from the end of the runway, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot switched back to the right tank, but because of his close proximity to the ground, he could not get the engine started in time to avoid a forced landing in a field of raspberries. During the landing flare, the aircraft collided with steel fence posts and static wires used to support the berries. It was later determined that the left fuel tank was empty at the time of the accident, but a false fuel quantity indication had been generated by a malfunctioning fuel-quantity sending unit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96VA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96VA-2000-08-25), registration cancelled 2000-08-25, S/N 2 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV-6T - Registry model: [Vans RV-6T](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-6t) (registry code 05625FF) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2 - Airframe hours: 189 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vans Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, August 15, 1995, 13 hours before - Departed: 4S1, GOLD BEACH, OR - Destination: 10R3 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 489 total, 339 in this make and model, 456 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19951007031409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951007031409A), Oct 7, 1995: Amtr RV6, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. Lost power on approach to airpark. Had run a fuel tank dry. Struck bushes. Tank was empty. Indictor was faulty. ## Other investigations on N96VA (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW00FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00FA113), Apr 2, 2000: Vans RV-6T (N96VA), Pettigrew, AR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's disregard for the… 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.