N360DD

Substantial
None

BISHOP THOMAS W BISHOP-ACRO S/N: 1

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, April 29, 2007
NTSB Number
LAX07CA141
Location
Stead, NV
Event ID
20070628X00824
Coordinates
39.667221, -119.876113
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection and his failure to verify that an adequate fuel supply was on board the aircraft.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BISHOP THOMAS W
Serial Number
1
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1981
Model / ICAO
BISHOP-ACRO FK9
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
1
FAA Model
BISHOP-ACRO

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
ROSS W LOUDON TRUSTEE
Address
1577 BELFORD RD
City
RENO
State / Zip Code
NV 89509-3907
Country
United States

Analysis

On April 29, 2007, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Bishop Acro, N360DD, experienced a loss of engine power and collided with terrain while attempting an emergency landing at Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local area flight departed Reno/Stead about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated in a written report that the aircraft had been on static display at a Young Eagles event. His children had taken a flight in another airplane and he decided to follow them in the accident airplane and take pictures; this flight lasted 15 minutes. After landing he took off again to take pictures of his friend's airplane. Ten minutes into the accident flight he elected to return to the airport, at which time the engine started to 'miss' and he realized it had run out of fuel. While lined up for a straight in landing on runway 14, the engine lost all power. The airplane landed 200 yards short of the runway and collided with sagebrush; the left aileron separated from the wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

In the recommendation section of the NTSB Pilot Accident Report form 6120, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by adding 'check fuel' to his pre-takeoff checklist.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX07CA141