Amateur-built Acro Sport II accident near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, June 7, 2003
On June 7, 2003 at about 5:09 pm local time, a amateur-built Acro Sport II, registered N94SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 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, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A related factor was the lack of suitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2003 · about 5:09 pm local time
- Place
- Bartlesville, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Acro Sport II
- Registration
- N94SM · no longer on the register · serial 733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An experimental home-built airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he requested fuel prior to departure from the Newton Country Airport (EWK). Fuel servicing was not performed on the aircraft as requested by the pilot. He departed without checking fuel quantity. He attempted an emergency landing in a field, where the airplane nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,048 hours in all; 511 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,907 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVO Bartlesville OK at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BVO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N94SM 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.