Summary
On April 29, 2007, a Bishop Thomas W BISHOP-ACRO (N360DD) was involved in an incident near Stead, NV. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: 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.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX07CA141. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N360DD.
Accident Details
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
Registered Owner (Current)
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