Amateur-built RV-12 N813JC accident near Abingdon, Virginia

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he did not visually verify the quantity of fuel in the airplane’s fuel tanks prior to departing on the accident flight. While enroute he climbed to 10,000 ft. mean sea level where he encountered a headwind that was greater than he had anticipated. As the pilot approached the intended destination, the engine lost power completely, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the off-airport landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the airplane’s fuel tank, gascolator, and carburetors were absent of fuel. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident could have been prevented by refueling before takeoff.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA210 for the full record.