Bibb RV-4 N144KT

Summary

On 29 August 1998 at about 14:10 local time, a Bibb RV-4 registered N144KT was involved in an accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 1998 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.9208, -79.0391

Aircraft

Bibb RV-4

Registration

N144KT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manassas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA231

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure of the pilot to ensure the aircraft contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot estimated he departed with about 18 gallons of usable fuel and that the engine uses about 9 gallons per hour. While on final approach to his destination the engine quit. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and a forced landing was made in a wooded area. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors showed the aircraft did not contain any usable fuel and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident or in flight before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.