Amateur-built SHA-GLASAIR accident near Beaufort, North Carolina, September 5, 2011
On September 5, 2011 at about 3:08 pm local time, a amateur-built SHA-GLASAIR, registered N334JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Beaufort, North Carolina (Michael J. Smith Field Airport). 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
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2011 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Beaufort, North Carolina · Michael J. Smith Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SHA-GLASAIR
- Registration
- N334JH · registry record · serial 608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included checking the fuel tanks for water. The startup and taxi were normal. After takeoff, the pilot raised the wing flaps and turned to the right. While rolling out of the turn, the engine coughed, ran, and then lost power. The airplane was about 150 feet above ground level. The pilot tried to land on another runway, but he did not have enough altitude or airspeed to complete his turn to final approach. He landed on an unpaved portion of the airport and impacted heavy brush, and the airplane structure sustained substantial damage. The pilot said that the engine lost power due to fuel starvation because he had not put any fuel in the wing tanks and forgot to switch the fuel feed to the header tank.
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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,782 hours in all; 1,074 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 23, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,074 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 5, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRH Beaufort NC at 2:45 pm
- Destination: MRH Beaufort NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,191 ft by 147 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 2:44 pm from MRH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 ERA11CA485.