Amateur-built VANS RV-4 accident near Seminole, Texas, July 31, 1997
On July 31, 1997 at about 12:45 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-4, registered N37RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seminole, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper use of the fuel tank selector.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1997 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Seminole, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-4
- Registration
- N37RV · no longer on the register · serial 37
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engine lost power after takeoff while he switched the fuel selector from the right to left fuel tank. The pilot stated that when he moved the fuel selector valve to switch tanks he failed to 'line the fuel selector valve correctly and therefore [caused] fuel starvation to the engine.' The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. Due to the low altitude of the airplane, the pilot was unable to attempt a second restart, and he executed a forced landing to a road in a residential area. The airplane struck a power line, impacted on and slid across an asphalt road, and struck a fence.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 31F TX at 12:45 pm
- Destination: F98 Plains TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots, gusting 3
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N37RV 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.