Summary
On July 16, 1993, a Hancock- Harris PITTS SPECIAL (N3186) was involved in an accident near Independent Hil, VA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
On Friday, July 16, 1993, about 1534 eastern daylight time, N3186, a Pitts Special, owned and operated by Steve Curelop of Washington, DC, crashed in a backyard in Independent Hill, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Fort Washington, Maryland.
The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he misread the fuel gage. He stated that he departed, "with almost empty tank and ran out of fuel minutes later. There was no mechanical malfunction, no weather problem.
This accident is documented in NTSB report BFO93LA125. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3186.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On Friday, July 16, 1993, about 1534 eastern daylight time, N3186, a Pitts Special, owned and operated by Steve Curelop of Washington, DC, crashed in a backyard in Independent Hill, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Fort Washington, Maryland.
The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he misread the fuel gage. He stated that he departed, "with almost empty tank and ran out of fuel minutes later. There was no mechanical malfunction, no weather problem. Accident was pilot error during preflight." The airplane lost engine power and a forced landing was made in a backyard and the airplane collided with a shed.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# BFO93LA125