Amateur-built MD SPECIAL accident near Wallace, North Carolina, December 21, 2015
On December 21, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1996 amateur-built MD SPECIAL, registered N141MD, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Wallace, North Carolina (Henderson Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wallace, North Carolina · Henderson Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MD SPECIAL, built 1996
- Registration
- N141MD · registry record · serial 001
- 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 during a cross country flight, he "ran out" of fuel, and subsequently had to land on a two lane road. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll the right wing impacted a road sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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 exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 564.5 hours in all; 290.7 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3.4 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 2, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 738 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A2 (piston); 517 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Shirley NY at 2:30 pm
- Destination: ACZ Wallace NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KOAJ, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 GAA16CA099.