Treasure Coast Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ft. Pierce, Florida 34946
Saturday, May 28, 2005 15:34 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Two witnesses observed the accident airplane approach, enter a bank, and saw the propeller "windmill." They stated that they saw the airplane dive, followed by an abrupt "pull-up", and saw the propeller windmilling again. After the pull-up, the airplane disappeared from sight. Both witnesses reported that they did not hear the sound of the engine. No evidence of usable fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks at the accident site. Following the onscene examination a detailed examination of the airplane and its systems as well as a test run on the engine revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's failure to refuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1534
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ft. Pierce
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34946
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 272970N
Event Location Longitude 0802210W
Event Location Airport Treasure Coast Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FL37
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SUA
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21928
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date May 28 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando, Florida FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3074T
NTSB Number MIA05LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Vans Aircraft
Aircraft Model RV4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number RV4TFRF
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John O Gunn
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7004 SW 39th ST
Aircraft Owner City Palm City
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34990
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code FL37
Departure City Ft. Pierce
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1351
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FL37
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2007 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --