Amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ accident near Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, March 5, 1994
On March 5, 1994 at about 8:10 pm local time, a amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ, registered N7169L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kill Devil Hill, 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
WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUMP THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1994 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RUTAN LONG EZ RUTAN LON
- Registration
- N7169L · no longer on the register · serial 934
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO NORFOLK AND PARKED IT ON THE RAMP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT DEPARTED NORFOLK WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE LEFT TANK. UPON REACHING HIS TURN AROUND POINT, THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL SUMPS, AND PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE RIGHT TANK. A QUANTITY OF WATER WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE FUEL SUMPS WERE DRAINED, BUT HE COULD NOT RECALL HOW MUCH WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SYSTEM. AFTER THE PILOT COMPLETED A RUN- UP, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED. AT 350 FEET MSL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE A FEW OUNCES OF WATER WERE RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. DURING THE NORMAL PREFLIGHT, THE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATES WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE IN THE LOWERED POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WOULD NOT SEAL AND HAD A HISTORY OF COLLECTING WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY OTHER FINDINS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,389 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1993; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: W36 Chesapeake VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from MQI, 10 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.