Amateur-built RV6 accident near Urbana, Ohio, August 1, 2021
On August 1, 2021 at about 12:00 pm local time, a 1989 amateur-built RV6, registered N443JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Urbana, Ohio (Grimes Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2021 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Urbana, Ohio · Grimes Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6, built 1989
- Registration
- N443JB · registry record · serial 20023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity in the two wing fuel tanks before takeoff. While the airplane was on final approach to land, with the right-wing fuel tank selected, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane impacted a corn field about ½ mile away from the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank was empty. A Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector stated that the pilot admitted to “running out of gas.”
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 (VFR pattern final)
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not inspected
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,645 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,645 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,565 hours in all; 1,710 in this make and model; 3,565 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines O-320 Series (piston); 4,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9OA5 Hebron OH at 11:30 am
- Destination: I74 Urbana OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02/2, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 am from KEDJ, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEDJ 011215Z AUTO 20005KT 6SM CLR 15/15 A2994 RMK AO1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Federal Aviation Administration - Aviation Safety Inspector Email | 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.