Amateur-built RIDGE RUNNER III accident near Andrews, North Carolina, July 10, 2014
On July 10, 2014 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built RIDGE RUNNER III, registered N39ZT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Andrews, North Carolina (Western Carolina Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to open the fuel tank valves during the preflight examination of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2014 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Andrews, North Carolina · Western Carolina Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RIDGE RUNNER III, built 2004
- Registration
- N39ZT · registry record · serial 02030388
- 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 departed the airport on a local flight in an experimental amateur built category airplane. After reaching about 100 feet above ground level and about 0.5 nautical miles from the departure end of the runway, the engine "sputtered" and subsequently lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field located directly in front of the airplane. During the landing, the airplane impacted the ground, the main landing gear splayed, and the airplane skidded about 40 feet before coming to rest nose down in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical failures or anomalies, but during a postaccident examination of the airplane he discovered that he had failed to open the fuel tank valves prior to the 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
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 456 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 20, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 990 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200A (piston); 177 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHP Andrews NC at 3:30 pm
- Destination: RHP Andrews NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from RHP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2014. 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 | FAA Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Follow-up | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Report and Record | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 1 - Compilation of Fuel Valves (Photos Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 2 - Airplane at Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.