Amateur-built CORBIN JR. ACE-E accident near Whiteville, North Carolina, July 1, 1995
On July 1, 1995 at about 5:40 pm local time, a amateur-built CORBIN JR. ACE-E, registered N74RK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whiteville, North Carolina (Columbus County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1995 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Whiteville, North Carolina · Columbus County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CORBIN JR. ACE-E CORBIN JR.
- Registration
- N74RK · registry record · serial 6772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONDITION DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN SOFT DIRT AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM FOUND RUST CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL TANKS, FUEL LINES AND GASOLATOR. THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT JUST PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT ONCE BEFORE HE PURCHASED IT, AND HAD EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE PILOT REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER PURCHASE, AND FOUND NO CONTAMINATION WHEN THE FUEL TANK SUMPS WERE DRAINED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 99 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 99 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUT Southport NC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: NC01 Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from ILM, 45 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL95LA123.