Amateur-built Hornet accident near Talbotton, Georgia, March 18, 2007
On March 18, 2007 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Hornet, registered N7XS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Talbotton, Georgia (Camilla-Mitchell County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main fuel line, resulting in fuel starvation and a 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
- March 18, 2007 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Talbotton, Georgia · Camilla-Mitchell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hornet
- Registration
- N7XS · no longer on the register · serial 003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a witness, he recalled that the pilot was at the airport inquiring about the purchase of fuel. The witness stated that the pilot wanted to top off his right main fuel tank, and it required 9.1 gallons of fuel. The airplane was later found in a heavily wooded area, and the propeller exhibited no evidence of rotation. During the examination of the airplane it was noted that the right main tank fuel line was disconnected at the engine fuel intake line. During inspection of this fitting it was noted that the o-ring seal was very brittle, and the locking mechanism could not lock the fuel line into the engine fuel line fitting. This would have caused a restriction of fuel to the engine therefore causing fuel starvation, and a subsequent loss of engine power. After the accident, fuel was supplied to the engine and a test-run was successfully completed.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 630 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-99 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXU Camilla GA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 21D St Paul MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KCSG, 30 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.