Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rogers, Arkansas 72756
Thursday, April 2, 1992 17:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN FIVE HOURS OF CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER UNFAMILIAR TERRAIN IN A NON-HEATED COCKPIT. FOLLOWING THE LAST DEPARTURE THE PILOT ALTERNATED THE FUEL SELECTOR BETWEEN THE TANKS. AT THE TIME OF ENGINE POWER LOSS THE SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK AND THE PILOT DID NOT SELECT THE LEFT FUEL TANK DURING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT TANK RAN DRY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF ENGINE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED PROCEDURES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ROGERS
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72756
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1858 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID FYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1251
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 268
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46393
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94BS
NTSB Number FTW92LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name R. W. SWITZER
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-4
Aircraft Serial Number 2
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 112
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAWN Y. RINALDI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 655 STEMEL COURT
Aircraft Owner City MILPITAS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95035
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAWN Y. RINALDI
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 655 STEMEL COURT
Operator City MILPITAS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95035
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OEL
Departure City OAKLEY
Departure State KS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --