Amateur-built RV9A accident near Shepherd, Texas, September 27, 2014
On September 27, 2014 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built RV9A, registered N809RD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Shepherd, Texas (Lake Water Wheel airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during the landing approach after a loss of engine power, which led to a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which led to fuel exhaustion and the 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
- September 27, 2014 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shepherd, Texas · Lake Water Wheel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV9A A, built 2008
- Registration
- N809RD · no longer on the register · serial 90781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot had conducted a 1-hour personal flight and was attempting to land the experimental amateur-built airplane. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the intended runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the airplane was in an inverted, level attitude at the time of impact. The fuel tanks were ruptured; however, no evidence of fuel spillage or fuel blighting to surrounding vegetation was noted during the on-scene examination, and no fuel was found in the tanks. The departure airport did not have fueling services available at the time of the accident. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that the gyroplane had adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. Further, it is likely that, while the pilot was attempting to maintain altitude to clear the trees at the approach end of the runway after the loss of engine power, he lost control of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 720 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: XS99 Shepherd TX
- Destination: XS99 Shepherd TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from 6R3, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 18, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger Statement (Provided by Attorney) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Information from Kit Manufacturer's Website | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.