Amateur-built Christavia MK 1 accident near Decherd, Tennessee, June 3, 2005
On June 3, 2005 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Christavia MK 1, registered N524J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decherd, Tennessee. 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
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2005 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Decherd, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Christavia MK 1
- Registration
- N524J · no longer on the register · serial 524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection but stated that he failed to visually check the fuel quantity in the tanks. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the engine started sputtering and the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump. The engine lost power and efforts by the pilot to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot located a pasture for an emergency landing and was approximately 50 feet above the ground when he banked hard to the right to avoid four poles sticking out of the ground. As the pilot continued to maneuver for the emergency landing, the airplane collided with the ground. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel gauge was on 'E' and there was no fuel recovered from the fuel tanks. The examination of the airplane also revealed that the fuel tanks were not breached.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 100 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 269 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBGF Winchester TN at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:23 pm from KMDQ, 23 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.
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.