Amateur-built RV6 accident near Ocala, Florida, October 10, 2016
On October 10, 2016 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1999 amateur-built RV6, registered N399DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Ocala, Florida. 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 improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2016 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6 A, built 1999
- Registration
- N399DC · registry record · serial 25129
- 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 he did not fill the fuel tanks before departing and while en-route the left fuel tank was exhausted and he switched to the right fuel tank. Upon reaching 3,000 feet during the descent to the destination airport, the right fuel tank was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot reported that when the engine lost power, the "fuel totalizer showed 30 minutes of fuel remaining, but both fuel level sender units read zero". The pilot reported that he realized the airplane would not glide to the intended airport and opted to land on a driveway at a local farm. During the forced landing the airplane struck wood and metal fence posts before the right main wheel dug into the grass and spun the airplane approximately 90 degrees to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that 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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- 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 level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 373 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 338 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 29, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320/E2A (piston); 290 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA Spartanburg SC at 12:30 pm
- Destination: X35 Dunnellon FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from KOCF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2016. 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 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.