Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Spring Hill, Florida, April 16, 2004
On April 16, 2004 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N199RD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Hill, Florida (Pilot Country airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb due to fuel contamination, that resulted in a forced landing
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2004 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Hill, Florida · Pilot Country · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N199RD · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner stated that he took off without performing a preflight inspection. He said he performed a run up, checked the magnetos, and did other "inside the cockpit" preparations. As he lifted off at 65 mph, he said the airplane did not immediately climb. He flew about 2/3 of the length of the runway, at an altitude of about 15 or 20 feet, and when he pitched the airplane's nose up, the engine started to sputter. He said reached forward and immediately switched the fuel selector valve from the right tank to the left tank, and the engine sputtered for another second and then ceased operating. The pilot made a forced landing to a field, and during the landing the airplane incurred damage. According to the pilot, the engine ceased operating due to the presence of water in the fuel.
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: 655 hours in all; 459 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 635 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,566 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X05 Spring Hill FL at 4:30 pm
- Destination: GIF New Port Richey FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from TPA, 30 miles away
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.
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.