Amateur-built Acro Sport accident near Burlington, North Carolina, June 22, 2002
On June 22, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Acro Sport, registered N16SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. This resulted in a forced landing and subsequent hard landing while maneuvering around trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Acro Sport
- Registration
- N16SE · registry record · serial 2329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight at 2,500 feet. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field and had to turn sharply to avoid an in flight collision with trees. The airplane collided with the ground hard and collapsed the landing gear. Examination of the fuel system revealed the fuel pick up tubes in both fuel tanks were not fully submerged resulting in fuel starvation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 13, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 319.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2002; 15.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,168 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A4a (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMTV Martinsville VA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: K4W7 Mebane NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 am from GSO, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N16SE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.