Amateur-built ULTIMATE 10-300 accident near Franklin, Kentucky, July 29, 1991
On July 29, 1991 at about 11:13 pm local time, a amateur-built ULTIMATE 10-300, registered N6521R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DELAY IN SWITCHING FUEL TANKS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND 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
- July 29, 1991 · about 11:13 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Kentucky
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ULTIMATE 10-300 ULTIMATE 1
- Registration
- N6521R · no longer on the register · serial 300-002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE AND AS HE WAS SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN FIELD WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TOP WING FUEL TANK AND NONE IN THE FORWARD AND AFT FUSELAGE TANKS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 1990; 53 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bill Baird Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: I05 Sturgis KY at 10:45 pm
- Destination: CSV Crossville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BWG, 999 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 N6521R 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.