Lamb (Vans) RV-4 N6596X

Summary

On 29 June 2003 at about 04:55 local time, a Lamb (Vans) RV-4 registered N6596X, operated by Lamb, Clifford L., was involved in an accident near Vail, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2003 at 04:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Vail, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Flying B (8WA0)

Coordinates

46.8569, -122.6575

Aircraft

Lamb (Vans) RV-4

Registration

N6596X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lamb, Clifford L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grangeville → Yelm

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

SEA03FA121

1 person died.

A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the non-operating (vandalized) runway lights, the pilot's delayed departure to his destination, dusk light conditions, rough/uneven terrain and high vegetation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed the private airstrip the morning after the proprietary runway lights had been disabled due to vandalism. He flew 1.8 hours to attend a family reunion and then departed shortly after 1930 back to his point of origination. The aircraft crashed at 2155. A relative familiar with the aircraft reported that the fuel consumption was about 8 gallons per hour and the aircraft was equipped with two 16 gallon wing tanks. There was no evidence that the pilot acquired any fuel after departing and no record of refueling for the return flight. The aircraft, which was observed flying westbound, crashed 3 miles south-southwest of the destination airstrip. Post crash examination revealed less than an ounce of fuel in the aircraft's fuel lines. The sun was approximately -7 degrees below the horizon at the time of the accident (dusk). The aircraft was observed to touch down in a 1,000 foot long open field of high grass overlying slightly rough terrain, roll a short distance and then nose over. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the standard roll bar aft of the forward pilot's seat had been replaced with a significantly lower roll bar.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.