Lamb (Vans) RV-4 accident near Vail, WA
On June 29, 2003, a Lamb (Vans) RV-4 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Vail, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 29, 2003
- Place
- Vail, WA
- Aircraft
- Lamb (Vans) RV-4 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 46.857°N, 122.657°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030701X00993
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 28, 2003, approximately 2155 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a homebuilt Lamb (Van's) RV-4, N6596X, registered to and being flown by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during a forced landing and subsequent nose over in a field approximately one mile north of Vail, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured and there was no fire. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Grangeville, Idaho, earlier on the evening of the accident. The pilot was reported to have flown N6596X from his residence at the Flying B airstrip (8WA0) to Grangeville (S80), Idaho, for a family reunion on the day of the accident. He departed 8WA0 approximately 0930 on the morning of the accident and a family acquaintance reported that the pilot indicated the flight time for this trip was 1.8 hours. There is no record that the pilot obtained fuel at Grangeville during his stop over. There was no record at local airports near 8WA0 indicating that the pilot had acquired fuel on the date of the accident, however, acquaintances of the pilot reported that he could routinely make the 8WA0-S80 roundtrip without refueling if he departed with full fuel tanks. A relative drove the pilot to the Grangeville airport on the evening of the accident arriving approximately 1920 (PDT), and estimated that the pilot would not have departed Grangeville before 1930. On the way to the airport the relative inquired as to whether the pilot had enough fuel and the pilot indicated that he
Probable cause
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.
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
