Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III N39ZT
10 July 2014 · Andrews, North Carolina, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 10 July 2014 at about 15:45 local time, a Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III registered N39ZT, operated by Sarvis Thomas Wesley, was involved in an accident near Andrews, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Andrews, North Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Western Carolina Rgnl (RHP)
- Coordinates
- 35.1869, -83.8764
- Aircraft
- Pekola James W RIDGE RUNNER III
- Registration
- N39ZT
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2004
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sarvis Thomas Wesley
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Andrews → Andrews
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA14CA349
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to open the fuel tank valves during the preflight examination of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated that he departed the airport on a local flight in an experimental amateur built category airplane. After reaching about 100 feet above ground level and about 0.5 nautical miles from the departure end of the runway, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field located directly in front of the airplane. During the landing, the airplane impacted the ground, the main landing gear splayed, and the airplane skidded about 40 feet before coming to rest nose down in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical failures or anomalies, but during a postaccident examination of the airplane he discovered that he had failed to open the fuel tank valves prior to the flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 2014 | Hiller UH 12E | Wadesboro, North Carolina, United States | Summit Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Alon A2 | Apex, North Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Maule M4-220C | Cherryville, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 2014 | Bell Bill KITFOX 6 | Columbus, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 2014 | Champion 7ECA | Taylorsville, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | - |
| 4 May 2014 | Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER | Advance, North Carolina, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |