The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbus, Ohio
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Urbana, Ohio
Accident Number: CEN21LA365
Date and Time: August 1, 2021, 08:00 Local
Registration: N443JB
Aircraft: Vans RV6
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity in the two wing fuel tanks before takeoff. While the airplane was on final approach to land, with the right-wing fuel tank selected, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane impacted a corn field about ½ mile away from the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and the left wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank was empty.
A Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector stated that the pilot admitted to “running out of gas.”
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings
Aircraft Fuel - Fluid level
Aircraft Fuel - Not inspected
Aircraft (general) - Failure
Personnel issues Preflight inspection - Pilot
Personnel issues Fuel planning - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Prior to flight Aircraft inspection event
Approach-VFR pattern final Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Approach-VFR pattern final Loss of engine power (total)
Approach-VFR pattern final Attempted remediation/recovery
Approach-VFR pattern final Off-field or emergency landing
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: June 30, 2021
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: March 7, 2021
Flight Time: 1645 hours (Total, all aircraft), 120 hours (Total, this make and model), 1645 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Co-pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 91, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 2, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 21, 2020
Flight Time: 3565 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1710 hours (Total, this make and model), 3565 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Vans
Registration: N443JB
Model/Series: RV6
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1989
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: 20023
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 15, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1850 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming Engines
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320 Series
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 150 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: None
Operator Designator Code: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEDJ, 1123 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 08:15 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 349°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 6 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 200°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hebron, OH (9OA5)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Urbana, OH (I74)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 07:30 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: GRIMES FLD I74
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1067 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: 02/20
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4400 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Full stop; Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.15119,-83.748438(est)
URBANA, Ohio (WDTN) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a small plane crash that happened in Urbana Sunday.
The Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash happened just outside the Grimes Field Airport before 8:22 a.m.
A 1989 Van’s RV-6 experimental aircraft was approaching the runway and lost power during approach. The pilot, Michael Baldwin, 61 of Pickerington, Ohio, made a controlled landing in a field, according to a release. 2 NEWS crews on scene could see the plane landed at the edge of a cornfield at the northern edge of the airport.
Baldwin was not injured in the crash. OSHP said no fuel spill occurred.
The crash is under investigation.
A small plane crashed at Grimes Field Airport Sunday morning. No one was injured in the crash, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a release.
Initial reports show that a 1989 Van’s RV-6 experimental plane was approaching a runway and lost power. The pilot, Michael Baldwin, 61, of Pickerington made a controlled landing in a field. He was not injured, the OSHP reported.
The incident was reported just before 8:30 a.m. The OSHP, Urbana Fire and EMS, Urbana Police Department, Grimes Field Airport officials and Maine’s Towing all responded to the scene, along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were contacted and also responded to the scene.
The crash is still under investigation, the OSHP said.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY — The Springfield Post of the Ohio State High Patrol is investigating a small plane crash in Urbana Sunday morning.
OSHP dispatch confirmed the plane crash happened near Grimes Field Airport and crews were called to respond just before 8:30 a.m.
The plane appeared to have crashed into a nearby field.
Dispatch says there are no injuries currently being reported.
The the cause of the crash is under investigation at this time.
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